ROOT EMOTIONS
2025rattan, paper tape, wood stain, ink, wool, cotton, polyester, twig, roof tile, washi, led chain, internet plug, brass pipe fitting
Root Emotions by Miao Li explores the intricate root networks of urban forests, revealing the complex, hidden connections between underground ecosystems and city infrastructures. Urban trees often face limited root space, poor soil, and disconnection from the mycorrhizal networks that support their resilience. This project examines how this fragility mirrors the psychological disconnection of city dwellers from nature.
In this project, the underground becomes both physical and psychological terrain. Li intertwines plant fibres with elements of urban infrastructure, forming root-like beings that echo the entanglement of both worlds. Using lines as a central language, the works become three-dimensional sketches of exchange, transport, and migration — processes present in both root systems and cities. Through these hybrid forms, the installations reflect the tension and resilience found beneath cities and within us.
By entering the subterranean realm of roots, the artworks reawaken a quiet sense of belonging, inviting us to descend into the deep mind, where we are not separate from other beings.
This project is supported by:
Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie
Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst
Stroomversneller
Van Eesteren Museum
