Alpha Space

• With the suspended air plant sculptures like those installed for the Airborne project 2013, we are interested in exploring how plants can occupy space but not surface. Suspension on and via wires extends the potential habitat of plants into what we term Alpha Space. While vertical and roof top gardens have become popular in major cities worldwide, they occupy surface, but these intriguing ground breaking air gardens step beyond earthly confines to rotate suspended in air or Alpha space. >>>>

• For many decades, my work had been termed environmental art. But more recently this term has been claimed by artists who create virtual environments. Ecology is the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms. I experiment using air plants within both ecology and an art context.

• The 22 March, 2015, online edition of The AGE newspaper, termed the experiments on Eureka tower as “Extreme Gardening”. It was such a great concept for what we are doing with the Tillandsias within the urban environment, we decided to adopt it.

ASAPS - alpha space air plant systems

• LOCATION:

  ASAPS can be located in places that other plants simply cannot including beyond vertical and across open spaces. MORE >>>

• WATERING AND NUTRIENTS:

  In many locations ASAPS require NO auxiliary watering and nutrient reticulation system . MORE >>>

• MANTANENCE:

  Unlike vertical gardens where maintenance schedules and costs can spiral out of control, ASAPS actually have the potential to generate an income for the building owner.

  MORE >>>

• WEIGHT:

  ASAPS weigh about 3 -5 Kg / m2 compared to other vertical garden systems which weigh 60 – 90 Kg / m2. MORE >>>

• ANIMATION:

  Because of the light weight, screens of air plants can be created which move across windows and skylight for heat mitigation. MORE >>>

• FIRE RISK:

  Unlike other vertical garden systems ASAPS have NO plastic components which can be a fire risk. MORE >>>

• PATHEGON RISK:

  Unlike other vertical garden systems, ASAPS pose NO pathogen risk. MORE >>>

• CAM CYCLE:

  Tillandsias used in ASAPS are one of few plants to use a CAM cycle to grow at night when most plants are in active.

• BIOMONITORS:

  Tillandsias used in ASAPS are able to uptake heavy metal particulants via special leaf cells and can be used to monitor pollution levels.

"Lloyd Godman is one of a new breed of environmental artists whose work is directly influencing 'green' building design......"Godman's installations are the result of a unique blend of botanical science, environmental awareness and artistic expression. All three elements are intrinsic to the practical realization of his polymathic vision".

John Power - Editor of Facility Management Magazine Aug 2011

"It is doubtful if Australasia has a more protean, visionary and ecologically committed artist than Lloyd Godman. Born in Dunedin, New Zealand in1952, and now living in Melbourne, Australia, he has been exploring environmental issues through photography (in combination with sculpture, painting and installations) since the early1980s"

. Black and White magazine USA issue 57 2008