Sophie Tiller, Der Parasit

The book DER PARASIT/THE PARASITE showcases works by artist Sophie Tiller that were created during her long-term project of the same name.

The artist plants nasturtiums in natural history books. Later, other plants – ‘parasites’ – are added by flying seeds and increasingly displace the nasturtiums. The plant colonisation prepares a habitat for animal colonisation. The book, as a living creation of humankind, is connected with actual living beings, the plants. Humankind attempts to explain the world with the help of classification systems. Reference books contain categories that represent humankind's desire to classify life. The ‘parasites’ from the book come to life, become independent, get out of control – the unpredictable process takes its course. Apparent chaos has broken out over order. Nature appropriates the book and thus the cultural asset created by humans, shapes it and uses it as a substrate, as the basis for new existence, and transforms knowledge into food.