by Shonisani Netshia
The rose or roses represent the Anthropocene for me because of the amount of energy it takes to produce them. Chemicals are used to preserve them- meaning that the water becomes even more contaminated. It is interesting how such a beautiful flower, with its representation and symbolism of love. Often women are gifted with large bouquets of roses, recently sometimes even wrapped with bank notes- accept them without understanding the environmental impact of imported roses. After a few days once the roses start withering, the roses are thrown away…it is said that planting roses in one’s own garden would be better. My interest in roses began when I was doing my Masters. While having discussions with my supervisor she pointed out the fact that while roses have direct links to domesticity they also have direct links (for South Africa) to Europe. They are hybrid forms. Rose hybrids have been bred, selected and are widely grown for their beauty and fragrance.[1] Roses are a symbol of English culture, and also create a visual link to Bertha Marks who created a Victorian English garden as a way of feeling safe and closer to England (Mendelsohn 1991:188). I painted them as part of my dissertation and went on to research the plantation of tea in certain regions in South Africa.
I refer to the plantationocene- which speaks to the commodification of plant life (Krieg)…Roses and other flowers which are extinct have no rights- they are of value in terms of what they represent and their commodification. Are we ‘romanticising’ roses/ flowers? At who’s expense?
[1] According to Brent Dickerson (2009:1) the name ‘rose’ comes from the French term Rosa. Most roses are native to Asia, with smaller numbers of species native to Europe, North America, and northwest Africa (Dickerson 2009:1-5).