Marsh Marigold
(feat. Collectief Imprography)
This project began with the Marsh Marigold, a plant thriving at the edges of polder land where soils meet and stability thins, first appearing to Youn while producing a series of improvisational performances that sought to bring diverse practices and backgrounds into a shared terrain, Improvisational Dance and Laboratory, produced by Collectief Imprography, based in Amsterdam. Drawn to its capacity to bloom in unstable conditions and to be quietly held by an ecosystem as fragile as it is resilient, she became curious about what it means—humanly and ecologically—to exist at a boundary. Instead of relying solely on human language through interviews or surveys, she turned toward the Marsh Marigold’s own modes of living, asking what “blooming,” “overwintering,” or detaching might mean for a plant negotiating its shifting environment. The work involves observing marsh ecosystems near Zwolle where she currently resides, building a multisensory apparatus that captures wind, sound, tactile vibration, and visual textures, and allowing scientific curiosity to guide how Youn makes sense of these phenomena. Emerging forms may include a sound piece, performance, or poetic essay that translates these ecological encounters into experiential insights. Ultimately, the project hopes to speak to those who, by necessity or choice, live across boundaries of practice or identity, offering the Marsh Marigold as a companion in learning how to navigate instability, recognize moments of knowing, and grow within shifting ground.