Date/Time
Date(s) - 08/09/2019
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Location
Hof Ter Saksen park

Wander Weed, as a performative walk, is a combination of a talk, a lecture, a space specific practice, an environmental listening tool and an introspective exercise. It is based on the last letters of Charles Darwin [1909-1882] that he wrote in relation to the world of plants.
His book and study: ‘The Power of Movements in Plants’ [1880] concerns itself with how plants respond to external stimuli and examines these processes in individual plants to gain understanding of some general principles governing their growth and life. In his conclusions, Darwin presents the key features of plants from an evolutionary perspective indicating that gradual modification of these processes in response to natural selective forces like light and water could enable extensive ability to adapt.

Wander Weed : Stefaan van Biesen & Annemie Mestdagh. A poetical, artistic and performative walk with Stefaan van Biesen, where participants explore a nomad work of art on a shared walk with 7 people at a time, along the readings a of poetic letters by Stefaan van Biesen [Letters to a Tree : 1996-1997]. Production: Annemie Mestdagh. Concept: Stefaan van Biesen / the Milena principle.

We are Wander Weed. As a performative exercise with five participants. They are introduced to a nomadic art work, a prop/bag to walk with. Participants can feel a letter filled with leaves of plants inside. They can only touch and feel the letters but not read them. Curiosity, sense of touch and wonder are generated by this, accompanied by a talk by the artist about our relationship with plants, culture versus nature, and with the reading of letters (Letters to a Tree). The ‘language of plants’ is the theme of this exercises. At the end of the walk the participants are led to introspection in their own past and personal memories. One hour walk/activity, will be repeated in small groups of max 7 participants.

After Plant(e)scape in Akamas during Made of Walking IV, for the first time Wander Weed Variations will be in Belgium (Hof Ter Saksen, Beveren) on several Sundays in September 2019 as a participation of Sound Walk Sundays London the 1th September 2019.

Walks will last approximately 90 minutes and take place at 15.00 / 17.00  on 8, 15, 22 and 29 September in Hof Ter Saksen park, Beveren Belgium (a beautiful park with very special trees). Each session is for 7 participants maximum.