PLANT AND SEED

[Lars Schumacher]

PLANT AND SEED – A Growing Social Sculpture
At the intersection of artistic practice and ecological awareness, the PLANT AND SEED project unfolds as a poetic yet powerful gesture. Initiated by German artist Lars Schumacher, this open call invites people around the world to sow a seed, plant a tree—and create an artwork that grows from this living act. 

Rooted in the tradition of Mail Art, which emerged from Fluxus and Dada and champions accessibility, participation, and non-commercial exchange, the project transforms the simple act of planting into a conceptual impulse. Each contribution becomes a point of convergence—between biology and aesthetics, between physical action and symbolic meaning. 

Participants document their planting—recording the species, date, and geographic coordinates—and create five works in DIN A4 or 20×30 cm format. These works are not created in isolation, but as creative extensions of germination itself. Submissions are sent both digitally and physically, with the physical works clearly marked “no commercial value”—a quiet but pointed reminder of the project’s ethos: art as a gift, not a commodity. 

Historically, Mail Art has always offered an alternative to institutionalized culture—a space for visual dialogue beyond the mainstream. PLANT AND SEED adds a new and urgent layer to this legacy: ecological mindfulness that doesn’t preach, but grows. In a time of disconnection from nature and escalating climate crisis, this project celebrates slowness, care, and planetary kinship. It’s not just about images on paper—it’s about making art with the earth, not just about it. 

The first contributions were shown on digital screens at the Kunstmarkt Burgdorf on September 1, 2019, followed by a studio exhibition in Hannover. But even beyond gallery walls, the project leaves behind invisible installations—planted gestures scattered across the globe. Trees in South America, seeds in Europe, and trails of inspiration winding through postal systems—all now part of a collective archive of attention and action. 

In this way, PLANT AND SEED is both artwork and ecosystem. It invites us to recognize that every planted seed is a political gesture, a hope inscribed in soil. And every artwork is a record of that intention. As the global climate conversation deepens, projects like this remind us that creative acts—however small—can take root in profound ways: artistically, ecologically, and humanly.

 

Who’s Already Planted

This social sculpture continues to grow—and everyone is invited to take part. So far, participants have planted in gardens, balconies, parks, studios, and public spaces. Here are some of the people who’ve already joined, connected through art and earth: Plantings for the PLANT AND SEED project have taken place in Burgdorf, Otze, Loßburg, and Gengenbach-Reichenbach (Germany); Berlin (Germany); Lugo in Galicia (Spain); Amsterdam (Netherlands); San Giovanni Valdarno (Italy); Zagreb (Croatia); Stargard (Poland); Windsor (Canada); Cañada de Gómez (Argentina); the Kilimanjaro Region (Tanzania); and Taiwan. 

Participating artists are Alfred Baxmann, Anastasía A. Mikhaylova, André Hellmundt, Anke Aust, Armin Pollehn, Barbara Ihme, Bernadeta Hellmundt, Claus Duensing, Darja Mrdjen, Friedrich Schumacher, Ilene Winckler, Johannes Hellmundt, Juliana Hellmundt, Lars Schumacher, Len, Luc, Maya Lopez Muro, Mirko Sievers, Nicas Marandu, Niniji, Rosa Gravino, Sabela Bana, Simon Strohe, Susan Gold, Susanne Schumacher, Wiebke Sievers, Zwilie Lebee-Thomas.

Join in! Whether you plant a tree, write a poem, or create an image—PLANT AND SEED thrives on your participation. The earth is the medium, art is the language. And every new planting is another verse in the poem of growth. If you’d like to take part or need help documenting your contribution, feel free to reach out. This project is open, evolving—and waiting for you.