Hybrid Ecology / Kept [amends]
KEPT [AMEND]
Making amends for the introduction of a noxious vine during the early colonialism to decorate gardens in Australia. The repetition of the seeds is a reminder of the highly invasive nature of the vine within the native habitat at the time disregarded.
Visitor looking at Kept [amend] (detail)
Kept [amend] front view exhibited in the Backroom gallery, courtesy of Articulate project space
Visitor ‘s feedback for Kept [amend] (extract)
Bioart installation
Kept [amend] (2026) is made of four mulberry paper panels with Cardiospermum grandiflorum seeds.
The amending process consists of four months of manual work in harvesting the balloon-like inflated capsules, separating their seeds from the pods and stems for creating repetitive ornamental seeded papery surfaces.
The scrunched mulberry paper mimics the papery nature of the seed’s leafy background, and it becomes the organic structure for supporting four thousand nine hundred eighty-eight seeds.
The artwork is meant to be attractive in the same way the exotic vine was introduced in Australia during the colonial era to decorate gardens.
The repetition of the seeds is a reminder of the highly invasive nature of the vine that was at the time disregarded, resulting in its usurpation of the native Australian bush.
The artist will continue her habitat amends by burning the artwork, once the show is ended.
Artwork details
| Artwork | Kept [amend] (2026) |
| Material | Mulberry paper, 4988 Cardiospermum grandiflorum seeds, glue, magnets, wooden rod |
| Dimensions | n. 4 x 50(L)x 320(H) cm each panel |
| Exhibition |
Kept [amends] _ Marta Ferracin
Articulate project space, Leichhardt NSW, AU 6 - 28 June 2026 Artist talks 14 and 21 June |
| Links | Event information |
Credits
Vine
Lane Cove river habitat
Photos and video
Corey Rankin; Marta Ferracin; courtesy of the visitor
Provision of the backroom
Articulate project space
© Marta Ferracin 2025 Website by Natalia
Installation assistant Christopher Verheyden