Rim Armouch

"As part of my ongoing research on the ways, ecocritical installations can be utilized to decolonize the way we perceive the environment in urban settings. I am using the Broadleaf Plantain, a plant that was introduced to North America as a result of human activity during colonization to challenge existing hierarchies between the human and non-human world and engage people in socio-political conversations pertaining to the lingering effects of colonialism within ecological discourse. Besides from being categorized as a weed, Broadleaf Plantain has valuable healing properties. Through the creation of this prototype, I am exploring the connections between the traditional use of medicinal plants and the potential for digital fabrication methods to enhance our understanding and application of these practices. The kit includes everything needed to create a plant-based remedy using Broadleaf Plantain. As people engage with the kit, following simple instructions and exploring the natural elements, they are invited to make a poultice. Additionally, I am looking to provoke discussions about the commodification of nature, and how we perceive and utilize natural resources in a modern, consumer-driven society. The act of packaging a plant-based remedy becomes a symbolic gesture, inviting users to consider the balance between harnessing nature's benefits and the ethical implications of turning it into a marketable commodity. "