Deciphering Banyan tree networks

Abstract

Within the genetic material of plants not only lies encoded their biological information necessary for their reproduction and survival, but also a depth of cultural information. “Deciphering Banyan Tree Archives” centers around the Banyan tree, also known as the strangling fig. Throughout history, the enigmatic biology of the Banyan tree has ensured it special status in human societies, and many have tried to capture the Banyan’s potencies through poetry, metaphor, painting, resulting in many readings and interpretations. In this project set in the context of Singapore City as a site of constant urban development, the Banyan tree, a natural vessel for multifaceted archaeologies, provides us with tactical ways of perceiving urban space, giving us a means to realize the invisible power structures governing our bodies, as well as to reveal how the liminal and marginalized members of our society might walk the City.