Rosa Canina continues Nona Inescu’s exploration of the entangled relationship between humans and the natural world. In this large-scale photograph, a human hand is intertwined with the delicate yet thorny stems of Rosa Canina, or dog rose. The hand, almost in an attempt at camouflaging, bears thorns like those of the rose, blurring the boundaries between the two forms.
Rosa canina—a plant known for its medicinal properties and resilience—thrives in both wild and cultivated spaces, like in the case of this piece, suggested by the iron wire holding the branches together. The thorns on the hand suggest both protection and vulnerability, hinting at the clash between human domination and nature’s autonomy.
This work reflects posthumanist themes, questioning the hierarchy between humans and the natural world. The work represents a symbiotic and collaborative coexistence, showing how humans look at nature as a source of inspiration for co-evolution and resilience.