Native/Foreign. A Deal between Symbiotes

The artist Eulalia de Valdenebro presents "Native/Foreign," a project that explores the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature, inspired by Michel Serres' statement on the interdependence of life. The project, initiated in 2010, focuses on the high Andean forest of Bogotá, where the artist studied and drew the complex tangle of vines and native plants. Valdenebro transported seeds and seedlings to her studio in the city, establishing a nursery with 800 plants of 12 species of native vines. The work culminated in a living sculpture that replicates the profile of the Eastern Hills, integrating the forest into the urban environment. The artist emphasizes the importance of allowing plants to maintain their natural life cycles, protecting them from gardening practices that formalize and control them. Valdenebro argues that it is urgent to abandon anthropocentrism and recognize nature as a network of symbiotic relationships, promoting an environmental ethic that transcends laws and considers nature as a being with its own rights.