"The Alien Garden" is a speculative assemblage of newly formed mutations of plants and waste hybrids discovered near a landfill outside of Toronto. This assemblage has its roots in conflating several ideas. First, the resilience of plants persevering on the edges of roads, pushing through concrete as if mocking the concretized urban infrastructure. Second, existential questions problems of ever-increasing human garbage on the planet and the ever-presence of plastics in our water, clouds and even our bodies.  

This assemblage plays with the idea of envisioning a future a century from now, where Alien Flowers, crafted from a fusion of orange peels, local flowers, Tim Horton lids, and popcorns, marshmallows etc, defy categorization in a complex, painterly sculpture. The garden challenges conventional notions of what is natural or artificial, urging viewers to transcend rigid categories and enjoy the gift of creation itself.  

This installation is an exploration of plant agency, acknowledging the living presence and interconnectedness of plants when they refuse to do what humans expect them to. "Alien Garden" aims to spark a renewed appreciation for nature's iterative adaptability by encouraging viewers to reflect on the tenacity of life, flourishing even in the most unexpected corners of our urban landscapes.  

These assemblages are part of a larger series of my ongoing work that challenges the idea of the "art object" as something permanent, acquirable and "professional" by creating frugal, intricate objects out of discards, rejects and materials that refuse to be boxed or stored by growing mould when sealed off. Almost demanding to be taken care of and be seen instead of being locked up in a storage locker.