Emily Gernild: We Breathe the Same Flesh

The lemon and other living organisms have long been a preferred subject for Emily Gernild, and after a stay on a lemon farm in Spain, she delved into the groundbreaking thoughts of the Italian natural philosopher Emanuele Coccia on the connections between humans, nature, and existence.

Coccia, known for his philosophical approach to the significance of nature, highlights how plants are fundamental to the maintenance of life. He points out that plants, without our request, convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into oxygen through photosynthesis and are thus the only living beings that actively give life to others. This fundamental dependence on the life force of plants, which Coccia describes as a "first form of cannibalism," is a central theme in Gernild's exhibition.

Through her paintings, Gernild explores how we, like plants, live in constant exchange with the world around us—we breathe because plants live.

Kilde:
Galleri Bo Bjerggaard