Uriel Orlow Examines Pre-Colonial Plant Names at PAV Torino

The Parco Arte Vivente (PAV) in Turin presents a solo exhibition by Swiss artist Uriel Orlow (Zurich, 1973), titled 'Prima che le piante avessero un nome' (Before Plants Had a Name). The show explores the intersection of language, nature, and postcolonial memory through documentary films, photographs, and participatory sound installations. Central to the exhibition is the sound piece 'What Plants Were Called Before They Had a Name,' which features a loop of indigenous plant names recited in various African languages, rejecting the Linnaean system and European colonial linguistic frameworks. Orlow's work critiques Western oppression, capitalism, and the political dynamics that have turned the botanical world into a symbol of indigenous cultural resilience. The exhibition also includes 'The Memory of Trees,' a series of magnetic negative photographs that examine interactions between organisms and environment, blending personal and universal histories. Orlow draws on naturalistic language theories (Fodor) and Chomsky's natural language theory to articulate a unique yet universal perspective rooted in South African tradition. The show runs at PAV in Turin, Italy.