Yvette Molina

WANT is an ongoing series about what we desire, what we wrestle with, what we hold onto and what we are willing to stand for.

What do you want?

Self Portrait as an 18th century Botanical Explorer Action Figure, 2014, wooden mannequin, epoxy clay, human hair, fabric, leather, acrylic paint, approximate dimensions (variable): 12.5 x 4 x 2 inches

The idea for this series began in 2011 when I lived in the Netherlands for 3 years.  Ten miles outside of Amsterdam exists the world's largest flower auction. Every day over 20 million flowering plants arrive in Aalsmeer from around the planet, are sold in minutes, then are shipped back out across the globe. This dramatic example of human-plant mutualism led me to the progenitors of this modern day trade: the natural philosophers and botanical explorers during the Age of Discovery.  

My research is focused on, but not limited to 18th and 19th century plant hunters (men and women) held in "thrall" by certain species of flora. Lured across oceans and to the ends of the earth, the adventures of plant collectors often ended in their rather tragic demise. I am interested in the role desire and conquest plays for not only the human characters, but also the plant actors in these stories. 

What is Wonderarium?
WONDER + TERRARIUM = A GIANT FLOATING TERRARIUM 

This site-specific proposal by artists Sarah Filley and Yvette Molina was conceived in 2009 to enchant and reinvigorate our romance for Oakland’s "urban jewel” Lake Merritt. Developed in collaboration with Architecture and Engineering Firm Ware Associates, the design includes a clear acrylic sphere (eight feet in diameter) mounted on an elegant tri-foot floatation apparatus. The sphere is designed to house a diverse selection of living plants. In the evening it will be illuminated from within by LED lighting. 

The Mobile Plant Ambassador unit was developed in 2010 by artists Yvette Molina and Sarah Filley to take plants “on the road.”  A visual mash-up of ice cream carts, nostalgic vending stands, and Barnum and Bailey type attractions, the Mobile Plant Ambassador promotes spontaneous interaction with the novel experience of building a terrarium directly from the cart.  All supplies: glass containers, pumice, soil, and a variety of plant cuttings, are arranged in the order needed to build a terrarium in four easy steps. Participants are invited to express their personal creativity through plants while learning about propagation, plant care, and micro-systems – the only fee is curiosity!