If we comÂpaÂre the histoÂry of sciÂence with art histoÂry, we’ll find that theÂse two areÂas of reseÂarch into life used to be one. Over time, a funÂdaÂmenÂtal sepaÂraÂtiÂon of theÂse two worldÂviews seems to have occurÂred. But the conÂnecÂtion betÂween sophistiÂcaÂted prinÂces’ cabiÂnets of curioÂsiÂties, the preÂcurÂsors of today’s museÂums of natuÂral histoÂry, and artisÂtic preÂsence had sinÂce their beginÂning been mutualÂly stimulating—as spaces wheÂre artists were part of the proÂcess of exploÂring nature.
Against this backÂdrop, the Natural History Museum, Leipzig, and D21 Artspace have inviÂted Leipzig artists Erik Weiser and Theresa Zwerschke to engaÂge artisÂtiÂcalÂly with the museum’s collecÂtion. Erik Weiser has stuÂdiÂed the various fish speÂciÂes and re-creaÂted them using curious mateÂriÂals, such as neon-coloÂred sneaÂkers. His works will be shown from 21 July to 3 September 2021 on the second floor of the Natural History Museum.
Theresa Zwerschke on the other hand starts from the speÂcial chaÂracÂteÂrisÂtics of the Oenothera (evening primÂroÂse) and responds to its forms and behaÂviÂor in artisÂtic ways. She is inteÂresÂted in the museum’s herÂbaÂria. In an artisÂtic reseÂarch, she traces mateÂriaÂlizÂaÂtiÂons of the botaÂniÂcal knowÂledge that is stored in the herÂbaÂriÂum and of its conÂnecÂtion to a coloÂniÂal past. She begins by asking how the collecÂtion was comÂpiÂled and in which conÂtexts the plants were found and searÂches for ways of preÂsenÂting and making visuÂal the collecÂted knowÂledge that would help to expand a sciÂenÂtiÂfic approach to the herÂbaÂriÂum through new narÂraÂtiÂves. Her instalÂlaÂtiÂon will be shown at the Natural History Museum’s preÂsenÂtaÂtiÂon room from 7 to 30 September 2021.
