RETURN TO OLDER WORKS
Ecbolic Garden, 2001
Details
Foyer, Centre for Health Sciences, Inverness, Scotland, UK
Materials: Bleached plants ( Black Spleenwort, Hog’s Fennel, Forking Larkspur, Dropwort, Birthwort, Pennyroyal, Marigold, Winter Savory) preserved in spirit, Handblown glass vessels, aluminium wire
Installation Dimensions variable
Photography: Dave Morgan
Links
DESCRIPTION
Ecbolic Garden is based on the 16th Century Apothecaries Garden of Glasgow University when it was closely allied to the neighbouring Cathedral. Upon the recent discovery of records relating to this garden it is apparent that a large portion of the plants grown there were, at the time, considered ecbolic “ inducing contractions of the uterus leading to expulsion of a fetus” Although this association is still made with one or two of the plants, several of these species are now used in homeopathic medicine for the treatment of quite different conditions. Christine has placed a leaf from each plant in a glass vessel initially filled with bleach, then with an alcohol solution. The colour has been drained from the leaves and only the "skeleton" of the leaf can be seen in each vessel. It is almost as if she is presenting the "ghost" of this garden.
Christine Borland's work is associated with the systems and processes, which provide the basis of our society. She builds up layers of psychological complexity, juxtaposing incongruous elements which pervade human sensibility, offending our notions of correctness and questioning the validity of our ideals. She plays with concepts of life and death, masculine and feminine, absence and presence, innocence and guilt. Through her investigative processes she reveals the brutal realities of contemporary society and validates her discourse with historical 'evidence', providing a disturbing commentary on humanity. She invokes in the viewer an automatic tendency towards inquisitiveness, a fascination with her subject matter and tools, because of their proximity to our own body. They hide a morbid fascination from which the viewer recoils instinctively but cannot escape.
Extract, Lisson Gallery Press Release