Plasticenta

Plasticenta envisions an alternative future where all life forms on Earth coexist, reimagining playful alliances across species and dissolving existing hierarchies. It portrays a surreal world where organisms blend seamlessly, fostering new kinships between human and non-human, organic and inorganic, animate and inanimate - a vision of interconnected existence beyond current divides.

The title, Plasticenta, references recent studies revealing microplastic particles in the placentas of unborn babies, underscoring how deeply synthetic materials infiltrate our bodies and environment. Reflecting this theme, the original site-specific installation at NOON Projects gallery in Los Angeles in 2022 featured a mix of photographs, textile works, clay reliefs, and the video piece “Hydra”. Central to the exhibition were photographic works framed in vermilion, focusing on growth and transformation. These images depicted plants, animals, and human-animal hybrids in states of metamorphosis and symbiosis. Familiar landscapes gained an otherworldly essence: plants sprouted eyes, a head levitated within a dense forest, and eyes floated in a red-tinted seascape. Since then, I have expanded on these ideas, creating new works that explore hybrid creatures, worlds, and emotions. Part of Plasticenta is currently featured at the 15th Gwangju Biennale in South Korea.

For over a decade, I have collaborated closely with my daughters and niece, who act as both subjects and co-creators, embodying an evolving dynamic of shared authorship and agency. This collaboration nurtures emotional exploration and addresses challenging topics, including environmental crises, climate anxiety, and the instrumentalization of more-than-human animals. By intertwining the everyday with speculative fiction, I aim to create a reflective space in which to engage with these dark subjects - offering a balm for the soul, providing solace and resilience.

Hertta Kiiski is part of Issue 17 by Guest Editor Torbjørn Rødland.