Palermo, SicilyThe migratory European art biennale takes over churches, palazzos and gardens with some of its most provocative political statements yetThere´s a rustling in the shrubbery, a glimpse of sleek, young bodies pale among the foliage. Naked young men eye up the lush foliage and stems. Soon, they are rutting away with the plant life, rooting with the roots. There´s a lot of groaning and wailing and chewing, saliva and chlorophyl. Filmed in a forest in Taiwan, Chinese artist Zheng Bo´s Pteridophilia is replete with groans and panting, the slither and crackle of leaves ripped with teeth and slathered by tongues. Shown on a small screen set up in a bamboo grove in Palermo´s magnificent botanical garden, the Orto Botanico, the action is a demonstration of `eco-queer potential`. It looks like plant abuse to me. The actual fornication remained off screen, but there was plenty of rhythmic bucking and shoving. I didn´t wait for the money shot, if there was one. Continue reading...
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