Ungenos Con Sanidad y Proteccion

Mugwort (Artemisia Vulgaris) is a plant I have deep reverence for despite hostile sentiments others feel towards it. Native to Asia and parts of Europe, this rhizomatous plant can contain up to 200,000 seeds and displays dynamic growth almost anywhere, especially within neglected environments. In the artwork, Ungenos con sanidad y protección, mugwort is essential to the concept and use of material. This powerful plant body in tandem with the site that it’s sourced from- Spring Creek Park (Queens, NY), tells a story that can reveal what we encounter between tragedy and beauty. Over the past six years, I have continued to learn about mugwort and have pushed the possibilities for how I can work with it in my creative practice and life. The organs of the plant contain food, medicine and magic. Depending on where it grows and levels of contamination in the soil, mugwort can also hold high concentrations of toxins, which makes it a great ally in phytoremediation. The work, Ungenos con sanidad y protección, exalts mugwort and is a supplicating gesture for guidance, healing and protection.