Exhibition New Wilderness opening at the Gewerbemuseum in Winterthur.
Herbs sprouting unexpectedly between paving stones, saplings thriving on vacant plots, rare species blooming on unused wasteland, wild plants flourishing along railway tracks, non-native species spreading along the sides of motorways: in our urban environment we are surrounded by spontaneous vegetation that makes use of every available ecological niche to lead an untamed life. This special kind of nature should not simply be appreciated for its unique qualities: it deserves to be celebrated and nurtured. It has the potential to inspire a new and optimistic approach to our contemporary urban landscapes and living spaces; one that is both environmentally aware and free from nostalgia. The New Wilderness exhibition presents the innovative perspectives of selected projects drawn from landscape architecture, research and ecology, which nurture a new wilderness and share a future-orientated understanding of urban nature.
New Wilderness is curated by Studio Céline Baumann in collaboration with the Gewerbemuseum Winterthur.
With projects and loan from: Archiv für Schweizer Landschaftsarchitektur; Céline Baumann; Fanny Brandauer; Matthew Gandy: Johanna Just; Franziska Klose; Krebs und Herde; Winterthur Nature Museum; OST, Rapperswil; Stadtgrün Winterthur
Picture: “Poppies, clover, dill, maple, couch grass, Dresden construction site, 2024”, Franziska Klose