Chilean artist Manuela Infante brings her polyphonic work Vegetative State to this year’s SIFA, amplifying an actress’ mere presence as a single woman to an entire swarm, a species. Incredibly expressive actress Marcela Salinas is the star of the show here, and inspired by the work of revolutionary plant philosopher Michael Marder and plant neurobiologists like Stefano Mancuso, Vegetative State probes into the plant kingdom, exploring the ways in which new concepts such as plant intelligence, vegetative soul and plant communication can transform us.
Are plants capable of thought and feeling, albeit quite different from our own concept of such activities? Marder argues that “to recognise the other in plants, is also to recognise the vegetal other in us”.If we accept that plants have other means of expression, then perhaps we might be able to see our own senses in a whole new light. Vegetative State attempts to touch on the surface of this impossible dialogue, and perhaps extend a helping hand, or curious tendril, and better link man to plant.
Vegetative State will be performed in Spanish with English surtitles at the SOTA Studio Theatre from 1st – 4th September. Tickets available here
Vegetative State
When: 1st – 4th September, 8pm (1st, 2nd, 4th Sep), 3pm (3rd Sep)
Where: SOTA Studio Theatre
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