20 January 2023 – 31 March 2023:

Symbio(s)cene presents Phytophilia – an exhibition with Danish Designer Sara Martinsen.

Exhibition Period: 20 January – 31 March 2023
General Opening Times: Fridays 11:00 – 19:00 and by Appointment
Location: Culturesphere Gallery, Horemansstr. 30, 80636 Munich

The exhibition presents sculptural objects by Sara Martinsen alongside her material encyclopaedia on the subject of plant fibres. Martinsen explores the aesthetic and functional potentials of plant fibres, which are of great relevance for the fields of product and textile design, applied art and architecture, especially with regards to transformative change. She has archived her collected knowledge about possible applications and ecological background information of these renewable and completely biodegradable raw materials in a digital encyclopaedia in order to make it accessible to a broad public.

Phytophilia, Sara Martinsen, Symbiocene, Symbio(s)cene, Culturesphere, Ingrid Ruegemer

Sara Martinsen next to her digital encyclopedia “Phytophilia”. Photography by Kristian Holm.

Phytophilia, Sara Martinsen, Symbiocene, Symbio(s)cene, Culturesphere, Ingrid Ruegemer
Phytophilia, Sara Martinsen, Symbiocene, Symbio(s)cene, Culturesphere, Ingrid Ruegemer
Phytophilia, Sara Martinsen, Symbiocene, Symbio(s)cene, Culturesphere, Ingrid Ruegemer
Phytophilia, Sara Martinsen, Symbiocene, Symbio(s)cene, Culturesphere, Ingrid Ruegemer
Phytophilia, Sara Martinsen, Symbiocene, Symbio(s)cene, Culturesphere, Ingrid Ruegemer

Curation of the exhibition and photography by Ingrid Rügemer.

In addition to some sculptural works, the exhibition presents part of the extensive collection of materials from the “Phytophilia” encyclopaedia, including several well-known fibres such as Bamboo and Sisal, but also rather unknown ones such as Kapok and Kenaf. The fibres are shown in various states: natural and unprocessed; debarked; prepared for further processing; as ready-to-use fabric samples or building material.

The motivation for the long-term project was Martinsen’s desire to gather comprehensive information on sustainable materials and manufacturing processes for her own furniture designs. “It was very difficult to get a complete insight into cultivation, extraction, transport and production, so I decided to start from scratch and collect all the facts and material examples I could find myself.” In addition to conveying knowledge, the designer is primarily interested in increasing sensitivity of the senses. Visitors are therefore invited to experience the exhibits haptically. In doing so, she wants to provide a deeper understanding and sensitivity for the properties of plant fibres and thus generate new impulses for future application scenarios.

The exhibition was organised by Symbio(s)cene e.V. and curated in cooperation with the gallery Culturesphere. It is accompanied by weekly guided curator-tours and an online design conversation with speakers from the fields of design, science and business. For information on speakers and a registration link for the free talk event please click here.


Supporters and Sponsors:

The exhibition is supported by Culturesphere Gallery and sponsored by Selbach Umwelt Stiftung. The accompanied talk event is sponsored by Bayern Design and Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wirtschaft, Landesentwicklung und Energie.

Culturesphere, Selbach Umwelt Stiftung, Bayern Design, Bayerisches Staatsministerium

A special thank you also to Statens Kunstfonds Denmark and to Boligfonden Kubens who support Sara Martinsen’s work and kindly sponsered her visit to Munich.