ANNA ZILAHI: URTICA

“Nettle is a versatile weed that enters human consciousness early, often as something to avoid because it stings. Its Latin name (urtica) reflects this burning sensation, yet its healing properties far outweigh its offenses. Nettle cleanses the blood, and even its sting serves as a remedy for rheumatism. This dual nature—painful yet beneficial—captures the ambivalence of our relationship with nature. Since the Enlightenment, we have sought to escape our vulnerability to the natural world and suppress experiences that remind us of it. In the face of ecological crisis, however, we must embrace a new perspective—one that recognizes openness and connection as inherently intertwined with pain. True understanding and enrichment come only by dissolving the boundaries of our civilization.” (Anna Zilahi)

Anna Zilahi’s solo exhibition at Liget Gallery centers on the stinging nettle (Urtica), a plant that encapsulates humanity’s ambiguous relationship with nature: it is both a troublesome weed and a potent medicinal herb. Since the emergence of private property, humans have sought to dominate their natural surroundings; since the advent of agriculture, they have exploited and commercialized them. Yet, our survival remains fundamentally tied to the natural world. The Enlightenment ideals that established rigid dichotomies—such as nature versus culture and body versus mind—now appear increasingly inadequate.

To challenge these binaries, Zilahi draws on Jacques Derrida’s concept of the pharmakon, a term that signifies both remedy and poison. The nettle embodies this duality: its sting causes pain, yet its properties can heal. This paradox mirrors the complexities of our relationship with nature itself. In her work, Zilahi approaches the nettle as a non-human entity with mythical, material, and active dimensions. Her ritualistic, almost collaborative engagement with the plant opens up new possibilities for connection and understanding. The exhibition includes new objects, photographs, and the video work Urtica (2022), which collectively examine the shifting dynamics and oscillation of the human-nature relationship and the concept of the pharmakon through an ecofeminist lens.

Curator: Veronika Molnár
Curatorial Assistant: Ágnes Keszegh
Graphic Design: Soma Gonda

Special thanks to the gallery team:  Lenke Barabási, Fruzsina Szabó

The exhibition is on view until February 8, 2025.

Opening hours: Wednesday-Thursday-Friday 4-7 PM.