Marisa Benjamim

Resilient Gardens is a one-month artist residency project at VNBM – Contemporary Art Gallery in Viseu, Portugal, curated by Sandra Oliveira.

During the residency, the artist focused on the concept of urban gardens, exploring natural spaces such as the century-old Fontelo Park and the geometric arrangements of pansies scattered throughout the city, as well as the edibility of Viseu’s plants. The outcome of this exploration is presented in three studies: Study of the Viola Tricolor, Study of the Fallen Trees, and Study of the Flavours, developed in collaboration with specialists from the Viseu community.
For the Study of the Viola Tricolor, the artist uses a natural printing technique, pressing petals onto paper to transfer their natural pigments.
For the Study of the Fallen Trees, the artist selects various tree trunks (linden, oak, and beech) from Fontelo Park with scientific support from the Viseu Higher School of Agriculture. The linden trunk undergoes an intervention and serves as the base for the flavours, the third study.
The Study of the Flavours involves extracting natural pigments, fragrances, and essences from Viseu’s plants, which are then placed in spray bottles. This multisensory, site-specific installation encourages visitors to become part of the project by tasting these colourful liquids, spraying them into their mouths. This not only invites public participation but also prompts reflection on the relationship between humans and the natural world, the intersection of art and everyday life, and art and science