Rötei (In-Leaking Garden)

People find the shade trees provide a space of peace when relaxing in a park. However, for some organisms, that same shade can become an obstacle depriving them of sunlight. This prompts us to reconsider how the physical presence of objects, in this case “garbage” suspended in space and casting shadows, reshapes our perception of their role in the environment. In 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Exhibition “pooploop” (2024-2025), veig identified features in the sunken court, which was surrounded by concrete with no overhead cover, that recalled a valley floor. Drawing on these elements, we envisioned and created a landscape that reflected the kind of scenery one might encounter in such conditions. A disposable water-permeable sheet commonly used in garden construction was floated as “garbage,” generating artificial shadows from above. Beneath these shadows, shade tolerant plants were placed, their branches bending as they searched for light. By showing how shadows cast by both trees and garbage, though different in origin, may hold equal meaning for organisms adapting to their surroundings, the installation explores the aesthetic possibilities of an environment shaped by human intervention. At the same time, it highlights the fluid relationship among people, nature, and manmade objects. Indeed, when something occupies space and casts a shadow, how does this universal act of overshadowing affect the environment and our sense of what belongs there?