According to The Star, "It was 20 years ago that the best time to plant a tree was. Now is the second-best time "according to a Chinese adage.
Planting Dreams: In Search Of A Good Gardener, a project by artist Shia Yih Yiing that blends creative ecological study and collaborative art-making, best exemplifies the proverb's spirit.
At Rimbun Dahan, an art center in Kuang, Selangor, the Kuching, Sarawak-born artist shares her findings, including new artworks. They'll be on display until the 23rd of January.
An art exhibition aims to inspire the next generation of gardeners in Malaysia. (Photo / Retrieved from Pixabay)
Shia's most recent solo exhibition includes 35 works of art, two animation videos, and a set of paper chess (with plants as chess pieces). It also includes observations on changing landscapes and comments on indigenous animals, as well as the artist's philosophical and environmental thoughts.
Read More: Thai beverage shops mimic Taiwanese brand with huge animal decorations
Planting Dreams re-connects visitors with Mother Earth, and its words about nature's healing process are pertinent.
A series of public workshops exploring the concept of the "Tree Of Life" kicked off the project.
Between December 2020 and July 2021, thirteen workshops (five on-site and eight online) were held with a total of 125 participants.
"To represent one person in these empowerment sessions, I used a plant branch with roots, stalks, leaves, and flowers." In a recent interview, Shia, 55, explained, "We looked at where it came from, what its strengths and flaws were... fundamentally, the workshop was structured in seeing individuals as gardeners in lifetime self-management."
The Planting Dreams project's next phase was to investigate the ecological and sociological realities of life in Sarawak's rural districts. The objective was to visit numerous communities in Sarawak and learn from the locals about helpful and valuable flora.
