Grass Roots - First Harvest
My first experiment to create a root system fibre was done with a couple of varieties of grass seeds which I placed on algae bioplastic in trays. In two of the trays, I put two layers of fabric. I placed them in a dark space for 3 days to germinate before placing it in natural light in my studio. I also placed a seed-growing mix over the seeds as I felt they needed something over them.
The seeds grown on the pink hessian seemed to grow the best, and after following experiments, I think this is to do with the fabric's looser weave. I harvested the root system after 14 days. The root systems became very fine after they lost their moisture. They dried out within a few hours. There are similarities in the reduction in mass as the bioplastic.
This root fibre is quite web-like, very “floaty,” and it can hold a basic form. I find the vein-like web of the roots quite intriguing. Within the confines of the tray, it has created its own pattern which I have had no control over beyond providing water and a grow space. The material is very light and I do not think they would not be a structural support but could add texture if I were to use them with bioplastic.
I am quite intrigued by the grass roll left after harvesting the roots. I am not sure if I should see if the tiny roots will reestablish themselves if I continue to nurture them on the tray or if I should leave it rolled up and now let it die. I do feel bad about letting it just die, it seems really callous and self centred to just let it die after I have got what I want from it. Is it a human thing to feel empathy for the grass and want to nurture it so it remains living, or a human thing to harvest and discard it as an insignificant casualty. Would someone else look at it and feel an empathy for it, or a would they look at it passively without even registering any life, or loss thereof. Beyond observing the withering or dead grass, rolled in a bright pink hessian fabric, would it invoke any other feelings. If the roll was displayed with the roots systems without explanation, would someone make that connection that those are the roots that have been removed or would they create another narrative. Maybe there is something else there i can expand on but is that just getting to similar to Scherers’ work.
