In Chicago, Lincoln Park and the Garfield Park Conservatory offer green respites from the city’s urban landscape. These spaces are celebrated for their lush vegetation, even in winter, and feature plant species not typically found in the Midwest.
The exhibition “Your Birth is My Birth”
Artists Merryn Omotayo Alaka and Sam Frésquez draw inspiration from the immersive environments of conservatories for their collaborative project, “Your Birth is My Birth.” The exhibition is on display at Jane Lombard Gallery and features synthetic hair sculptures made from Kanekalon, which replicate natural forms.
- The installation includes five “species”: Listening Roots, Hearing Bells, Mother & Child, Stacking Pearls, and Umbra Pods.
- The artworks are influenced by epiphytes, plants that grow on other plants without taking nutrients from them, such as orchids and moss.
The largest sculpture, part of the Listening Roots series, creatively anchors individual pieces to a central structure, creating a sense of interconnectedness across the space. Smaller works, like “Stacking Pearls,” echo this theme with their unique forms.
Themes and influences
The sculptures also explore ideas of genetics and inheritance, with repeated forms appearing within the same structure. This reflects a system of dependence and supports a broader narrative of relationships and mutual sustenance.
The exhibition will be open for visitors through June 13. Further insights into Alaka and Frésquez‘s work are available on their Instagram page.
Luscious hair sculptures sprout in a unique exhibition
