April 28th, 2025 | 18:00h, Kunstverein Freiburg
Can you take care of my plants when I’m away Video work by Hemansingh Lutchmun (2024)
As part of the exhibition Was weitergeht at Kunstverein Freiburg, our Doctoral Researcher Joanne Rodriguez is invited to a table talk on power structures.
You can find further Information regarding the Table Talk by clicking here.
In his video work Can you take care of my plants when I’m away (2024), Hemansingh Lutchmun, based in Frankfurt and Goodlands (Mauritius), explores intersections of labour, exploitation, and displacement. Filmed in the garden of “Château Labourdonnais,” a former colonial mansion and sugar plantation on Mauritius, the video subtly captures moments from everyday life—gardeners at work, tourists strolling through the estate—while a phone conversation between the artist and his mother unfolds in the background. Their discussion touches on family ties to the plantation, remnants of a Hindu-influenced cultural identity, and broader reflections on class relations, racial hierarchies, and the legacy of wage labour.
Lutchmun’s work raises critical questions about how colonial structures persist in the landscape, language, and real-life experiences. The video serves as a meditation on visibility and representation: Who gets to speak, who remains unseen, and how do these dynamics shape contemporary discourse?
The table talk will further explore these themes, delving into the power structures that define who has access to resources, influence, and a voice in society.