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UID:28351@offbeat.amsterdam
SUMMARY:Cross-Pollination Theory
DTSTAMP:20261008T015714Z
DTSTART:20261107T180000Z
DTEND:20261108T010000Z
DESCRIPTION:What if a mutated plant could alter human sexuality through its
pollen?\n\nSparked by the "gay frog" conspiracy theories\, this video and
bio-installation\nflips genetic modification picturing a sci-fi future wh
ere plants bio-hack us to\nhalt human overpopulation. Surrounded by uncann
y\, aggressively grafted bonsai\ninstallations\, the work links suppressed
botanical history with queer\nresistance\, asking who really gets to cont
rol the code of life.\n\nCross-Pollination Theory explores the relationshi
p between queerness\, mutation\,\nand the modification of living organisms
. Taking the “gay frog” conspiracy\ntheory that circulated in the United S
tates during the 2010's as a starting\npoint\, it imagines a new plant spe
cies that emerges from contaminated land and\ndevelops pollen that suppose
dly alters human sexuality. The plant becomes a\nfictional form of “revers
e GMO”: instead of humans modifying plants\, the plant\nbegins to modify h
umans\, reversing the anthropocentric structure through which\nhumans have
historically managed and controlled other forms of life.\n\nIn this specu
lative world\, the plant’s evolution serves as a form of ecological\nresis
tance against human environmental destruction. Suppressed by dominant\nins
titutions\, knowledge of the plant finds a way to survive through conspira
cy\ntheories\, questioning which forms of knowledge we accept as science a
nd which we\ndiscard as myth.\n\n\nMAYA ERIN MASUDA [https://www.mediamati
c.net/en/page/393700/maya-erin-masuda]\n\nHer time-based and spatial narra
tives bring non-human subjects to the\nfore—ranging from synthetic skin to
artificial milk and contaminated plants. In\ndoing so\, she sensually con
fronts the tech-driven biopolitical violence\naffecting both human and non
-human life. Drawing from personal experiences with\nreproduction\, hormon
al therapy\, and normativity\, her work imagines trans-species\nsolidarity
as an act of resistance and care\, positioning toxicity and\ninflammation
as complex forces that redefine belonging beyond human-centered\nperspect
ives. Enlarge\n[https://www.mediamatic.net/image/2026/9/8/w_3487.jpg%28%29
%28F4676D08B38F13B6BE9D1F4E075A5AF2%29.jpg]\nhttps://www.mediamatic.net/en
/page/393729/maya-erin-masuda---credits-hayato-itakura\n\nMaya Erin Masuda
- credits: Hayato Itakura -\n[https://www.mediamatic.net/image/2026/9/8/w
_3487.jpg%28%29%28F4676D08B38F13B6BE9D1F4E075A5AF2%29.jpg]\n\n\nINFORMATIO
N\n\nExhibition\n19:00 - 02:00\, 7 November 2026\n\nMediamatic\, Border La
b (Greenhouse)\n\nPart of GMO: How far are you willing to mutate?\n[https:
//www.mediamatic.net/en/gmo-how-far-are-you-willing-to-mutate] during\nMus
eumnacht Amsterdam 2026\n\nQuestions? program@mediamatic.nl [program@media
matic.nl]
URL:https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/cross-pollination-theory
GEO:52.3765012;4.9132763
LOCATION:Mediamatic - Dijksgracht 6\, 1019 BS Amsterdam
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:amsterdam-centrum,eastern docklands,plants,queer
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:What if a mutated plant could alter human s
exuality through its pollen?
Sparked by the "gay frog" conspiracy
theories, this video and bio-installation flips genetic modification pictu
ring a sci-fi future where plants bio-hack us to halt human overpopulation
. Surrounded by uncanny, aggressively grafted bonsai installations, the wo
rk links suppressed botanical history with queer resistance, asking who re
ally gets to control the code of life.
Cross-Pollination Theory
explores the relationship between queerness, mutation, and the modif
ication of living organisms. Taking the “gay frog” conspiracy theory that
circulated in the United States during the 2010's as a starting point, it
imagines a new plant species that emerges from contaminated land and devel
ops pollen that supposedly alters human sexuality. The plant becomes a fic
tional form of “reverse GMO”: instead of humans modifying plants, the plan
t begins to modify humans, reversing the anthropocentric structure through
which humans have historically managed and controlled other forms of life
.
In this speculative world, the plant’s evolution serves as a form
of ecological resistance against human environmental destruction. Suppres
sed by dominant institutions, knowledge of the plant finds a way to surviv
e through conspiracy theories, questioning which forms of knowledge we acc
ept as science and which we discard as myth.
Her time-based and spatial narratives bring non-human subj
ects to the fore—ranging from synthetic skin to artificial milk and contam
inated plants. In doing so, she sensually confronts the tech-driven biopol
itical violence affecting both human and non-human life. Drawing from pers
onal experiences with reproduction, hormonal therapy, and normativity, her
work imagines trans-species solidarity as an act of resistance and care,
positioning toxicity and inflammation as complex forces that redefine belo
nging beyond human-centered perspectives. Enlarge Maya Erin Masuda - credits: Hayato Itakura -
I
nformation
Exhibition
19:00 - 02:00, 7 November 2026
Mediamatic, Border Lab (Greenhouse)
Part of G
MO: How far are you willing to mutate? during Museumnacht Amsterd
am 2026
Questions? program@m
ediamatic.nl
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DESCRIPTION:Cross-Pollination Theory
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