Martin Roth grew several species of grass on an assortment of valuable rugs for an installation initially staged in Austria. He is now showing this at the Korean Cultural Centre in London.
"From May to June 2012 I grew grass on rugs in a castle" by Martin Roth (Installation shot from Kalsdorf Castle, Austria) —
Martin Roth grew several species of grass on an assortment of valuable rugs for an installation initially staged in Austria. He is now showing this at the Korean Cultural Centre in London.
Clemens Nestroy
Drawing on the representations of gardens that are commonplace on such rugs, the artist created a garden within a castle.
"From May to June 2012 I grew grass on rugs in a castle" by Martin Roth (Installation shot from Kalsdorf Castle, Austria) —
Drawing on the representations of gardens that are commonplace on such rugs, the artist created a garden within a castle.
Clemens Nestroy
For this installation, Roth filled a gallery with debris from the war in Syria, and created a landscape in which rescued parakeets would live throughout the duration of the exhibition.
"In July 2015 I shipped debris from the Syrian border to use as bird litter" by Martin Roth (Detail shot from Louis B. James Gallery, New York) —
For this installation, Roth filled a gallery with debris from the war in Syria, and created a landscape in which rescued parakeets would live throughout the duration of the exhibition.
courtesy Martin Roth
Most of the debris was brought to New York in suitcases. Roth explained, "I wanted people to walk through the exhibition and then walk home with the dust of the debris on their shoes -- to bring the war home essentially."
"In July 2015 I shipped debris from the Syrian border to use as bird litter" by Martin Roth (Detail shot from Louis B. James Gallery, New York) —
Most of the debris was brought to New York in suitcases. Roth explained, "I wanted people to walk through the exhibition and then walk home with the dust of the debris on their shoes -- to bring the war home essentially."
The basement of the gallery was flooded and inhabited by rescued bullfrogs.
"In July 2015 I shipped debris from the Syrian border to use as bird litter" by Martin Roth (Detail shot from Louis B. James Gallery, New York) —
The basement of the gallery was flooded and inhabited by rescued bullfrogs.
courtesy Martin Roth
Viewers were encouraged to interact and touch the plants in this installation, which affected the sound they produced.
"From January to March 2015 I grew corn for a plant concert performed in a museum" by Martin Roth (Detail shot from the Hessel Museum of Art, New York) —
Viewers were encouraged to interact and touch the plants in this installation, which affected the sound they produced.
courtesy Martin Roth
This bonsai was flanked by two speakers, which fed live sounds of crickets, frogs, lizards, birds and fish.
"In March 2013 I created a natural soundscape for my bonsai" by Martin Roth —
This bonsai was flanked by two speakers, which fed live sounds of crickets, frogs, lizards, birds and fish.
courtesy Martin Roth
For this work the artist purchased the loneliest bird in a pet shop and took him on a road trip to the Salton Sea, one of the most diverse bird wildlife refuges in the US.
"In November 2014 I filmed a bird driving to the Salton Sea in California" by Martin Roth —
For this work the artist purchased the loneliest bird in a pet shop and took him on a road trip to the Salton Sea, one of the most diverse bird wildlife refuges in the US.
courtesy Martin Roth
In 2012, Roth went to live in the European countryside among sheep. The artist's retreat functioned as a "rupture of our 24/7, always-on, always-connected, high performance culture."
"From July to August 2012 I lived with sheep in Europe" by Martin Roth —
In 2012, Roth went to live in the European countryside among sheep. The artist's retreat functioned as a "rupture of our 24/7, always-on, always-connected, high performance culture."
courtesy Martin Roth
Roth sent a vegetable to the conceptual artist Bas Jan Ader, who went missing in 1975 while trying to cross the Atlantic. Many believe it was a disappearing act, and that the artist is still living on a small island.
"In May 2011 I sent a tomato plant to Bas Jan Ader" by Martin Roth —
Roth sent a vegetable to the conceptual artist Bas Jan Ader, who went missing in 1975 while trying to cross the Atlantic. Many believe it was a disappearing act, and that the artist is still living on a small island.
courtesy Martin Roth
Freed from their involvement in science these mice would listen to Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" when using the exercise wheel, which was connected to a music box.
"In October 2014 I rescued laboratory mice so they could play swan lake" by Martin Roth —
Freed from their involvement in science these mice would listen to Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" when using the exercise wheel, which was connected to a music box.
courtesy Martin Roth
Exploring the notion of the artist as a nurturer and caretaker, Roth transformed his studio into a habitat for six ducklings -- a take on the idea of an artist creating and nurturing their work. The result was not a finished object for display. The ducklings were simply released.
"In the fall of 2010 I raised 6 ducklings in my art studio. I later released the ducklings into the wild" by Martin Roth —
Exploring the notion of the artist as a nurturer and caretaker, Roth transformed his studio into a habitat for six ducklings -- a take on the idea of an artist creating and nurturing their work. The result was not a finished object for display. The ducklings were simply released.
courtesy Martin Roth