Green (un)seen

Project description

Green (un)seen is a collaborative, international artistic intervention exploring plant blindness, created to mark Fascination of Plants Day on 18 May 2026.

The project unfolds through handwritten letters discreetly placed in public spaces. Each letter contains a brief explanation of plant blindness, a reflective question, an invitation to connect with us online in response, and a small original artwork—inviting passersby to pause, notice, and reconsider their relationship with the plants that quietly sustain life around them.

Response mechanism 

People who find the letters will be invited to leave a comment — and optionally a photo — under the post on this page www.artnow.global/post/green-un-seen. If they share their experience on social media, they will be encouraged to use the hashtag #GreenUnSeen.

Purpose and Impact

Connecting people from all over the world through a shared appreciation of plants. Raising awareness of plant life by making it more visible in everyday environments. Highlighting the essential role plants play in sustaining life and shaping our future.

About the nature of this project

Green (un)seen is a self-initiated pilot project with no dedicated funding. It is driven by voluntary participation, shared curiosity, and a collective desire to bring attention to plant awareness in public spaces. The insights, documentation, and learnings from this first edition will help us evaluate its impact and potentially seek funding to expand and develop future iterations.

Our role as coordinators

As initiators of Green (un)seen, we coordinate the project across cities and participants. We invite and connect participants internationally, share guidelines and materials, and support everyone joining the intervention. We will gather documentation from all locations and publish a collective snapshot of the project on May 18. After the intervention, we will create a visual map of the participating cities and communities and share summary posts highlighting the project’s outcomes.

In addition, we:

• provide the conceptual framework and reflection questions,

• design the visual identity and communication materials,

• compile participants’ experiences and responses,

• and archive the project as a documented SciArt intervention.

How to participate

Thank you for taking part in Green (un)seen. This project exists through the thoughtful actions of many people in different places. Your local intervention is what gives this collective initiative its meaning, diversity, and presence in the world. Below you’ll find a few guidelines to help you prepare your letters and artworks, while leaving space for your own creativity and the local spirit you bring to the project.

1. Please sign up to participate using this form. 

2. Organise a minimum of 15-20 small envelopes. Recommended size/proportions: 8x11cm (3.15 × 4.33 inches) or similar.

3. Write one short letter for each envelope. We will provide the letter text template and a list of questions by email to all signed-up participants. We warmly encourage you to handwrite the letters and translate them into your local language. However, if you prefer, you may also print the text.

4. Add one of the proposed questions in the letter (see suggestions below).

5. You can also print and cut out the QR codes provided here and glue them next to our website link. Please always include the full written web address. The QR code is optional.

6. Include a small piece of art on the envelope that captures the spirit of your intervention - this could be a dried flower, a hand-painted stone, a small collage, etc. It’s up to your creativity. If you use any plant elements, please do so with the utmost respect.

7. Distribute the letters in public spaces on 18 May 2026 (library, train station, bar, park, school, hospital, supermarket, hotel, etc) - a place where the letter is protected from being destroyed by, for example, weather or human activity, and is visible enough to increase the chances of it being seen.

8. Document the process by taking pictures when preparing the letters, pieces of art and/or when leaving the letters in public spaces.

9. You’re very welcome to share your process, your artwork, and your experience of taking part in Green (Un)seen on social media. If you do, please use the hashtag #GreenUnSeen so we can see your posts and share your work through our channels.

IMPORTANT CREATIVE AND LEGAL NOTE:

The type of artwork and the location in which the letter is placed, must not disrupt public order or harm anyone, and each contributor is solely responsible for their own actions. The artwork should be carried out with care and attention to aesthetics so that they remain attractive and encourage engagement. By agreeing to join the action, each participant accepts these conditions.

Background Fascination of Plants Day (May 18th)

• A celebration of the captivating world of plants initiated in 2012. 

• Organized by The European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO), jointly with over 64 National Coordinators across the globe

• Official site https://plantday18may.org/

• The event invites individuals of all ages to engage in plant-based interactive events and activities organised by scientific institutions, universities, botanical gardens, museums, schools, farmers, and companies worldwide.

• Individuals and organisations eager to contribute are welcome to reach out to their National Coordinators. They will add the event to the general calendar and help with advertising the event. All the contact information can be found at https://plantday18may.org/countries/

Key Highlights of Fascination of Plants Day 2026

1. Diverse Interactive Activities: Participate in a plethora of plant-themed activities, ranging from interactive workshops to engaging exhibits, designed to cater for everyone from toddlers to grandparents.

2. Experience a broad spectrum of plant-related topics: including basic and applied plant science, agriculture, horticulture, forestry, plant breeding, plant protection, food and nutrition, environmental conservation, climate change mitigation, smart bioproducts, biodiversity, sustainability, renewable resources, and plant science education and art.

3. Global Collaboration: Institutions and individuals worldwide are encouraged to host events or join as visitors, fostering a sense of global community around the appreciation of plants.

Networking Opportunities: National coordinators, volunteers, and enthusiasts form a network to promote and disseminate activities within their respective countries, creating a robust support system for the initiative.