The Sugarcane Labyrinth
An Agricultural Land Art Project by Anne Katrine Senstad in Theriot, Louisiana
In collaboration with Life is Art Foundation/KKProjects, New Orleans and Triple K and M Farms, Theriot, Louisiana.
“I leave to several futures (not to all) my garden of forking paths.”
The Garden of Forking Paths by Jorge Luis Borges, 1941
Time line:
- Planting of Sugarcane Labyrinth commenced March 2009
- Sugarcane Labyrinth has grown to full height by August 2009, reaching 10-12 ft height. Open to the public.
- End of October – the official opening and opening reception event hosted by Anne Senstad, Life is Art Foundation/KKProjects, Triple K and M Farms and local companies.
- November/December 2009 – harvesting of the Sugarcane. Exhibition of documentation material, video and photography based work and documentation catalogue/artist book to follow.
The Sugarcane Labyrinth is a 1-acre (4000 sq meter) living sculpture/agricultural land art piece placed on a farm in Theriot, Louisiana - Triple K & M farms. In correspondence to the Land Art piece in Theriot, there will also be a smaller Sugarcane footprint outline of a Hurricane Katrina damaged house in the Lower Ninth ward, which refers to the agricultural living sculpture as a natural time based piece and a natural memorial. Both versions will have opening receptions in late October 2009. Dates to be announced.
The idea around creating an agricultural land art piece, is to demonstrate agricultural sustainability in order to create awareness about farming culture as a path to local and urban sustainability, as well as the idea of introducing agriculture back into the urban environmental infrastructure, to share an agricultural awareness as a way of survival in times of economic failure, and re building local urban environmental support after natural destruction.
In addition to the aesthetic properties, the choice of Sugarcane for the Labyrinth is based on local agricultural farming culture in Louisiana, as well as the usage of sugarcane for ethanol production as transportation based fuel (bio fuel) and for human resource and consumption purposes such as sugar, rum and sugarcane juice production as local industries. Please note that sugarcane for ethanol production and for human consumption are different species.
The Labyrinth itself is a literary and mythical symbol of "the Path". It can be famously traced back to Greek mythology, in iconic mysticism, and seen in spirituality, as "The Path to enlightenment", as well as the path through life and a symbol of the universe in literature. It is a game and an architectural landscape construction for people to interact with, wander through as well as create aesthetic value. The wilderness experience of the Sugarcane itself, growing to 12 foot high and the walls being 6-12 foot wide, will for the participants be experienced as an overpowering sense of nature, recreating the notion of loss of direction and confusion.
Advisory Board:
Anne Katrine Senstad
Life is Art Foundation/KKProjects/Kirsha Kaechele
Triple K & M Farms/Ronnie Waguespack – Sugarcane Farmer
Alexandre Vialou –Agricultural Economist and Writer/Essayist
Emile Dumesnil
The Sugarcane League –Louisiana Division/David Grunyard/
Assistant: Pamala Bishop
Tim Connover White - Ecologist
Anne Katrine Senstad is an internationally working Norwegian artist based in New York. She is represented by Gallery Nine5 and Bjorn Ressle Gallery in New York, and KK Projects in New Orleans. She has exhibited internationally at Zendai Moma in Shanghai, Galleri JMS in Oslo, Norway, Houston Center for Photography, Gary Snyder Gallery, Gallery Nine5 and Bjorn Ressle in New York and with KK Projects in New Orleans during Prospect 1. Art fairs include PhotoMiami, Diva Paris, Scope Miami, Sao Paolo contemporary art fair.
Supported by The Royal Norwegian Consulate General Houston , special thanks to Ronald Waguespack Jr and Triple K & M Farms, Thibadoux, LA
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