‘Herbarium’ is a cinematographic observation based on the changes in the classification of plants. Going from classical taxonomy to genetic data-storage, Visser wonders what is left when the plant its separated from its physical features. What is a plant to us, without the sensation of smell, texture and its visual appearance?
In a long abandoned tropical greenhouse formerly used by the biology faculty of Wageningen University, during a full moon night, the dry plants are reanimated, in a visual language where nature is shown as an artefact, devoid of any natural context.
Credits
Director: Barbara Visser
Research & script & production: Barbara Visser & Bart Haensel
Camera: Jean Counet
Light: Roel Ypma
Editing: Alexander Goekjian
Set animators: Gunnar Daan, Pablo Pinkus, Tom Wagenaar
Music: Jeroen van Veen Minimal Piano Collection, Vol. 6 & 7, Prelude nr.21 in B Flat, Prelude nr.11 in B