Invasive Weed Blooms into Art Installation

Lantana camara, a plant introduced during the colonial era and now known as an invasive 'forest killer,' is being reimagined at Sunder Nursery's Aranyani Pavilion. This public ecological installation, open until February 20, transforms the weed into material for sustainable design. The pavilion features a spiral structure made from upcycled lantana wood, leading to a domed chamber housing a shrine carved from a nine-tonne soapstone block. This initiative, conceptualized by Tara Lal, aims to reconnect people with nature by highlighting how invasive biomass can be repurposed, rather than simply discarded.

The Aranyani Pavilion's 'Sacred Nature' theme draws inspiration from India's sacred groves, community-protected forest spaces. Informational panels detail lantana's aggressive spread, affecting over 13 million hectares of forest land. The installation challenges the perception of lantana solely as waste, exploring its potential as a building resource. The site will also host discussions, talks, and yoga sessions on India's architectural ecosystem and building with living systems.