"The installation Ruigoord; native vegetation for phytoremediation by visual artist Lennart Lahuis consists of a sand drawing that has been magically embedded in the soil of Ruigoord. The drawing shows a map of Ruigoord filled with a web of numbers. These numbers indicate the locations of plants and trees found in Ruigoord that are capable of counteracting soil pollution by naturally breaking it down. Below the map, a chart can be seen that describes these plants and trees. The drawing lies submerged under water every now and then, it appears and disappears with the play of wind on the surface and the reflection of sunlight.
This installation is the result of a collaboration with Anke Wijnja from cultural incubator De Ceuvel in Amsterdam and David Frank from the Ruigoord Archive. At De Ceuvel, Anke Wijnja manages a project focused on phytoremediation. Phytoremediation is a technique and field of research in which vegetation is used to counteract various forms of soil contamination. Through this perspective, Lennart Lahuis and Anke Wijnja examined the vegetation present on the grounds of Ruigoord. Surrounded by the petrochemical industry, Ruigoord provided the context in which Anke and Lennart specifically researched plants and trees that would be able to naturally break down petrochemical pollution. Information and documentation relating to this project will be included in the Ruigoord Archive, which makes both the archive and the location a source (of knowlegde) for soil-purifying plants and trees." - RE_Nature Festival
