Plant (Brugmansia aurea)

Plant (Brugmansia aurea), 2024. Cibachrome print, 33cm x 33cm. JPEG 4320 X 4320 pixels. Following the protocols of the blockchain that define a space protected from destruction, manipulation, and the passing of time, artist Debora Hirsch decided to bring back to life and preserve nearly extinct plants within the realm of AI and physical painting. These endangered species are recorded on the blockchain, granting them an eternal virtual existence, while serving as a symbolic memory of what we have lost and what we risk losing. Plants, frames, landscapes, architecture details and monolithic birds all together, aim at emphasizing the complexity of interconnections that belong to ecosystems while evoking the delicate equilibrium and transience of nature. BRUGMANSIA AUREA Native: Ecuador, Colombia. Assessment: Extinct in the Wild. Threats: The causes for extinction in the wild are unknown. It is believed that some animal responsible for spreading the seeds became extinct, causing the plant extinction in the wild. PLANT: Toxic if ingested, it is known for its medicinal and hallucinogenic properties. Cultivated in botanical gardens to preserve genetic diversity.