Diana Scherer, the textile grown underground.

Published 3 November 2026 · WHV

The first surprise is that the patterned surface is not woven from cut thread. Diana Scherer works with roots. Their growth is directed into structures that resemble textile, bringing a process normally hidden in soil into the space of an artwork.

A pattern made through growth

Her Hyper Rhizome works belong to a sustained investigation of root systems, pattern and human control. The artist documents work made from roots, soil and seeds. Her wider account describes collaboration with scientists and an interest in treating root systems as a kind of yarn. The photograph here records a work from the 2023 Hyper Rhizome series.

The compelling part is the tension between a planned pattern and a living process. A root is not an inert raw material that simply obeys the maker. The result invites a different way of looking at both textile and the plants surrounding us. That artistic value is distinct from proving that the method can replace industrial fabric at scale.

Know which kind of work you are acquiring

For someone considering a work, establish whether the offered object is a root textile, a photograph or another form within the practice. Ask for the exact title, date, materials, display requirements and conservation guidance. A striking image on a screen cannot tell you how an organic work should be supported or cared for. The material question is part of the acquisition, not an afterthought.