Test Garden Open Day – July

Keg de Souza

Keg is an artist of Goan ancestry who lives on unceded Gadigal land in Sydney. Architecturally trained, she creates social and spatial environments, making reference to her lived experiences with projects that explore plant and food politics, temporary architecture, publishing and radical pedagogy. De Souza also draws from personal experiences of colonialism to inform layered projects, centring voices that are often marginalised, for learning about Place. Themes of displacement filter through her work, sharing (often lesser-known) stories of plants, people and Place.

Dr Dean Schrieke

Dean is a postdoctoral Research Fellow in Green Infrastructure at the University of Melbourne. Dean’s research applies trait-based ecological theory to develop resilient planting strategies for urban landscapes, bridging ecological science and landscape design practice. Dean coordinates the Arts Precinct Plant Trials, evaluating plant species and planting combinations suited to Laak Boorndap, an 18,000 square metre garden within the Melbourne Arts Precinct. Alongside this research, Dean maintains an active practice in experimental music and sound sculpture.

The Melbourne Arts Precinct Plant Trials is a three-year research project conducted at Burnley, led by Associate Professor Claire Farrell and Dr Dean Schrieke, that evaluates the plant species and mixes best suited to thrive in Laak Boorndap – the new 18,000 square metre urban garden that is being developed as part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation.

The artist-in-residence program is a collaboration between Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation (MAP Co) and The University of Melbourne. The program invites visual artists to undertake a year-long residency at the University’s Burnley Campus, working alongside urban horticulture researchers and academics, and responding to themes of ecology, sustainability and biodiversity.

Inspired by the research, artists will give creative voice to the Plant Trials, developing public artworks, publications, programs and events that reflect on the nuances of plants and environment. In collaboration with the University’s Faculties and the University’s Museums and Collections department, curriculum and public outcomes will also be produced.

The artist-in-residence program connects the rigorous research that is informing the creation of Laak Boorndap with public art and free and accessible programming.

Each month, we hold a small in-conversation event focused on gardening and planting design.

You can hear from gardeners, designers and horticulturalists about the garden’s naturalistic planting. We also invite plant-loving writers and creatives to share their experience with us.

The talk is followed by a hands-on workshop demonstrating artist-led practice with plants, such as cyanotype and botanical printing, and practical workshops, including propagation techniques and planting for your own garden.

Registration for our Test Garden Open Days is free and spaces usually book out fast. Make sure you’re following @laak.boorndap on Instagram to hear when we open registrations.