Phormium Tenax

Phormium Tenax is the scientific name for New Zealand Flax. It grows in our gardens, towns, and cities, chosen for its aesthetic purpose, however, to Maori culture, this plant has spiritual meaning and significance. This project explores how this non-native plant arrived in Scotland through colonialism. The work highlights materials traded during this encounter, steel and Phormium Tenax. Weaving and printmaking are shared with the viewer to call attention to the man-made processes used by these cultures, one through necessity and the other for production. The moving image is combined with appropriated archival images from Kew Gardens which recognise our attempt to grow Phormium Tenax in Scotland for rope production.

Through the use of the archive, this project aims to recognise where non-native plants, growing in Scotland have come from.