Exotic Invasive is a series of paintings on concrete, which constitute a catalog of plants that are officially blacklisted in European countries. Yet, most are quite common and easily found in flower shops or empty fields. These species were brought to Europe for various reasons during the colonial era or the present day, such as agriculture or ornamentation. Today, however, these plants are institutionally feared and opposed on the basis of their reproductivity or aesthetics. The categorization and rhetoric surrounding these plants parallels institutional attitudes and policies targeted at migrant populations.
This series is part of Argote’s ongoing installation practice which combines sculptures, ruins, and vegetation to underscore a non-human resistance to dominant historical narratives.