Mamakan is a botanical artist working with art, cuisine and nature. She is originally from Aarhus, Denmark of nordic Vølve-Viking decent and has deep Scandinavian roots from her Kimbri and Frisii ancestors on her father's side and Daner on her mother's side.
Today. Mamakan is based at Velskov, a native forest farm in Parau, Auckland, New Zealand, where she creates contemporary multi-sensory art/food installations and exhibitions.
Mamakan's art practice could best be described as 'GastroGeography' - the taste of a place which were part of the Singapore Bieenale 2016 and a solo show at the National Museum of Singpaore in 2017.
Her sensory artworks and collaborative projects amplify nature and aim to create a sense of belonging and wellbeing.
See her full bio here.
Mamakan Oustrup Laureijs at her studio at velskov, Waitakere Ranges in Auckland.
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Selected Installations and Exhibitions
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Seasons of the Land
Native New Zealand Botanicals 14 November 2020 - 1 December 2021'Seasons of the Land' is an art project magnifying the native and seasonal plants of Aotearoa New Zealand. Since the summer solstice of 2019, Mamakan has been collecting specimens of... -
Art of Foraging
Aotearoa 1 October 2020 - 24 March 2024During the guided 4 hour experience, your senses will be awakened with a 16-course tasting feast created with native and seasonal flowers, fruits, leaves and seeds. -
Mamakan x Le Ciel Foundation: Wisdom and Nature
Christie's, New York and London 1 March 2020 - 18 February 2021Update: The exhibition opened at Christie’s in New York from 28th February until 4th March 2020. Due to the Coronavirus, the London showing has been postponed. We will keep you updated on the new dates as soon as we know more. Meanwhile, online bidding is open here. -
Wildflowers of London
20 June - 20 September 2020‘Wildflowers of London' is a botanical art collection drawing attention to resilience, the human capacity to overcome the most grave disasters, injustice and inequality through grace or grime. It asks the question: "Human, weed or wildflower?" and challenges the classifications we use in our daily lives. -
Mycelium Dinners
A Beautiful Forest 16 January - 31 December 2019In nature, Mycelium forms underground symbiotic networks. Inspired by the forest root system, Mycelium Dinners is a social-art experiment to grow community through trust and love. -
Daughter of the Soil
OH! Emerald Hill, Openhouse, Singapore 3 - 25 March 2018An art installation inspired by the story of Agnes Joaquim, a Singapore born Armenian woman, born on the 7th of April, 1854. The flowers merge to shape a map of Agnes’ country of birth and an outline of her proudest creation, the Papilionanthe ‘Vanda’ Miss Joaquim orchid, that 82 years after her death became the national flower of Singapore. This daughter of the soil became the first woman in the world to ever cross-breed orchids. She devoted her life to become a botanical explorer creating beauty for generations to enjoy. -
Treasure Island
National Museum of Singapore 28 April - 25 June 2017A Botanical Art Installation by Mamakan at the National Museum of Singapore, inspired by the story of a botanist’s first encounter of Singapore in 1823. -
Invisible Realities
The Performance Theatre, National Museum of Singapore 15 June 2017Mamakan was commissioned by The Performance Theatre to host an interactive performance including a personal guide to her 'Treasure Island' installation with a foraging tour followed by a bespoke, private dinner experience with dishes created from the foraging. -
GastroGeography
Singapore Biennale 2016 27 October 2016 - 26 February 2017The project is inspired by GastroGeography (coined by the Singapore Biennale Creative Director, 2016) and created by the Mamakan Art Collective: Danish-born, Singapore-based artist Mamakan with contributions from Singaporean artist Steve Chua, Singaporean entrepreneur/writer Laletha Nithiyanandan, Danish artist Mette Langebaek and several local botanists. GastroGeography installation 2016 Commissioned by the Singapore Biennale 2016. Media: Installation, Visual Artworks, Taste, Scent. Inspired by urban foraging in Singapore. Keywords: Foraging, Connection to Nature, Sensorial Storytelling, Belonging.
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