Exhibition le jour des esprits est notre nuit, Crac Alsace, Altkirch, France, 2019
Installation with ceramic, light filter, rope, salt
With Qui vivra verra, Qui mourra saura (Who will live will see, who will die will know) Minia Biabiany explores the forgotten knowledge that structures the traditional Guadeloupean «case» garden.
The «case» garden is one of the earliest forms of territorial appropriation and construction for the enslaved people of Guadeloupe. It is both a space for domesticating nature and a site of social relationships, particularly those between the living and the dead. The garden surrounding the dwelling consists of successive «shells» of ornamental, medicinal, or therapeutic plants that protect, heal its inhabitants, or enhance this private yet visible space.
The dwelling itself is built from a two-room module, approximately 2.80 × 5.60 meters, covered by a tin roof with two or four slopes serving as the base for an expansion process. It typically has two doors on each long side and one on the shorter sides. Extensions are made by adding new rooms through the existing French doors, which then become interior doors gradually transforming the house into a labyrinthine space according to the family’s needs.
Its layout reflects a concern for protection, with careful cleaning of its surroundings and the presence of protective plants guarding against acts of witchcraft by spirits or through the placement of objects. The color of the house walls also conveys the diplomacy of its occupants with spirits, whether benevolent or malevolent. Blue signifies maximum protection, red repels attacks and manifests strength.
Finally, depending on its dominant color and the shape of its leaves, a single plant may have a different name depending on whether it is placed in front or behind the house. When planted at the front, Qui vivra verra promotes longevity, whereas at the back, Qui mourra saura facilitates the transmission of knowledge between generations.
The shell-like structure of the case garden serves as a tangible site of negotiation and mediation with the invisible. Although its structure still exists today, its meaning has almost entirely faded.
©Aurélien Mole