What is A Weed
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![Two cardborad panels stand at the centre of the gallery. Curtains in shades of green surround the space. Graphics with leaves and natural scenes are all around. Three individuals are having conversation while a child participates in an interactivity.]()
Students from two secondary schools in Surrey conceived and curated the temporary exhibition for the Royal Horticultural Society Wisley, Woking. It explores subjects including human–plant relationships, beauty norms, compassion, and humans' place within the ecosystem. Autum 2023.
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![A cardboard panel with graphics showing a 'weed' cauldron stands at the centre of the gallery along with a mirror Aboard panel. Curtains in shades of green, a seedling model on a shelf and a long showcase with naturalistic graphics at the background]()
Through a series of creative workshops with students, it was decided that the exhibition would feel like something other than visiting an exhibition or an art gallery. The walls were lined with natural material referencing theatre/fashion shows / natural environment to achieve a distinctive atmosphere. Reveals to showcase models and interactives within these fabric drops help keep the individual's work distinct and frame a shared project.
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![A showcase with an open-displayed herbarium and small leaflets displayed on an angled acrylic slope is at the front of a graphic panel in green tones embellished with little flowers.]()
Creative practitioners Ada Rose (She/Her & They/Them) and Linden McMahon (They/Them) supported the students in developing their ideas around the question of' What is a weed? ' The students drew inspiration from the RHS Lindley Library collections, particularly botanical artworks and rare 16th-century ‘herbals,’ which describe plants and their uses.
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![Four exhibition cards with direct to media graphics showing flower iconography. Cards are sitting on reboard narrow shelf which is fixed to a colourful panel with leaves, flowers and bees.]()
The choice of rigid cardboard as a graphic material highlighted the importance of environmental concerns while enabling the construction of free-standing displays within the space.
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![Man with black jacket is watchibg a video on a screen while wearing headphones attached to it. A green curtain at the background and a series of exhibition panels fixed to wall. Content includes flower iconography, textual information and sketches.]()
This exhibition is a compelling example of how organisations like the RHS can achieve remarkable results by relinquishing control and allowing unconventional voices to shape exhibitions. It underscores the importance of embracing different perspectives and facilitating creativity beyond traditional boundaries.
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![A man wearing a white tshirt is applying a sticker onto the wall. The vinyl letters on the wall read "In your hands". There are many stickers in the shape of circles with different content stuck onto the wall.]()
Our design reflects the students' wish to create a friendly, imaginative, and inspiring space. They wanted the audience to be able to both reflect on and feel motivated by the exhibits. Fabric in shades of green and focused lighting created a theatrical atmosphere. Graphic patterns combining illustrated leaf shapes and mini-beasts were used as printed backdrops to define different areas. Visitors were encouraged to pledge to act positively and were challenged to think differently.
