apu llantén (2018)

apu llantén (food sharing for collective healing) (2018)

broadleaf plantain sculptural installation and food justice ritual performance in collaboration with Aemilius Milo.

llantén, also known as “white man’s footstep” or broadleaf plantain, is a perennial plant indigenous to Eurasia. inadvertently brought over on the boots of the colonizers, plantain has been growing widely throughout Turtle Island and Abya Yala for the past 525 years. colonially designated a “weed”, llantén is highly regarded over its remarkable medicinal qualities (antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hydrating, soothing, etc). llantén can be found sprouting all over Tkaronto, rising through the pavement cracks. thriving. defiantly.

part of “For Us, By Us” curated by Geneviève Wallen at Xpace Cultural Centre.

lwrds and Aemilius Milo, apu llantén, foodmaking ritual performance art, broadleaf plantain, food justice, decolonial foodscape, Xpace, Toronto

Aemilius Milo & lwrds foodmaking ritual performance still

lwrds performance art, apu llantén, removing steel mesh sculpture off the wall at Xpace Toronto with audience behind them

lwrds removing steel mesh sculpture off the wall at Xpace

lwrds ritual performance with Broadleaf Plantain, apu llantén, in collaboration with Aemilius Milo at Xpace Toronto

performance still, with Llantén bundles

lwrds meditating during ritual performance with Broadleaf Plantain, apu llantén, in collaboration with Aemilius Milo at Xpace Toronto

performance still, ritual moment of silence

performance still, Aemilius Milo & lwrds during the Llantén soup preparation

Broadleaf Plantain soup food ingredients displayed in plantain leaf bowls

Aemilius Milo serving Broadleaf Plantain soup

lwrds hands a cup of Broadleaf Plantain soup to a performance audience member

lwrds handing a cup of Broadleaf Plantain soup to a performance audience member

Aemilius Milo and lwrds serving Broadleaf Plantain soup to a lineup of performance audience at Xpace Toronto

audience member holding Broadleaf Plantain soup

audience member holding Llantén soup

performance remnants of sculptural installation with loose dried Broadleaf Plantain, huayruros, palo santo, and purple speckled corn, and altar figures

closeup of performance remnants with purple speckled corn, huayruros, dried Broadleaf Plantain, and dried eucalyptus leaf

installation view of apu llantén with hanging steel mesh structure holding knotted bundles of Broadleaf Plantain, clay pieces by Aemilius Milo, Palo Santo, and Broadleaf Plantain seed pods, collaboration with lwrds duniam

installation view, apu llantén, with hanging steel mesh structure holding knotted bundles of Broadleaf Plantain, Palo Santo, and Broadleaf Plantain seed pods; clay pieces by Aemilius Milo

installation detail of apu llantén with hanging steel mesh structure holding knotted bundles of Broadleaf Plantain. lwrds duniam art

installation detail, apu llantén, with hanging steel mesh structure holding knotted bundles of Broadleaf Plantain

installation detail of apu llantén with knotted bundles of Broadleaf Plantain, clay pieces by Aemilius Milo, Palo Santo, and Broadleaf Plantain seed pods, collaboration with lwrds duniam

apu llantén installation detail with knotted bundles of Broadleaf Plantain, Palo Santo, and Broadleaf Plantain seed pods; clay pieces by Aemilius Milo

installation detail of apu llantén with knotted bundles of Broadleaf Plantain, clay pieces by Aemilius Milo, collaboration with lwrds duniam

apu llantén installation detail with knotted bundles of Broadleaf Plantain; clay pieces by Aemilius Milo

photos by Yuula Benivolski