ICA Cologne

Gesa Kolb, Nadjana Mohr, Darcy Neve – curated by Lisa Oord

Info: Orangeries and palm houses, originally designed to cultivate unknown species in close proximity, have always been places of longing, a room for one‘s own, allowing dreamy journeys to distant worlds as winter gardens and luxurious extensions reserved for only a few people as prestige architecture. In this duality – half garden, half living room – this architectural extension is a refuge and habitat for people and plants in a protected atmosphere. Things can (survive) here that cannot cope with the climate of the northern hemisphere – which is vulnerable and particularly in need of protection. The exhibition Winter Gardening (working title) deals with protective spaces for fragile beings and species – those who, in times of increasing displacement and the threat of political tightening in any direction, particularly fear for their own habitats and niches. (…)