I would rather see one happy plant of knotweed than half a dozen aristocratic individuals struggling unsuccessfully. - Marguerite James

So often art tries to imitate nature or twist it to the artist's personal use (i.e. playing internal cow organs); not to say that I don't love a good painting, which Socrates would consider one of the farthest imitations from nature. However, it's wonderful to see art that incorporates natural elements as they are (like using the cow's natural lowing). I would've thought it hard to incorporate plants in a sound art, especially when sound is the main element, but Miya Masaoka created just such a work for Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Homemade Instrument Day in New York. Pieces for Plants involves a Philodendron's natural responses to the proximity, touch, and interactions of the viewer. These responses are then translated into sound by electrodes attached to the leaves and an electronic synthesizer.

Humans have always been dependent on plants. Although most of us are omnivores, we don't depend on plants solely as a food source. As I'm sure you're aware, plants (particularly rainforests) produce most of the world's oxygen and take in equal amounts of carbon dioxide. Plants surely don't depend on us as they've been around millions of years without us, but it's interesting to know that they do react to us. Pieces for Plants encourages people to reconsider the human/plant relationship and even perhaps the nature of consciousness. This was a popular work at the exhibition. Children and adults alike came back multiple times to experience the Philodendron's song, which seems representative of the yearning in many people for nature. I think this is my favorite interactive work that I have come across so far. Look for the video here.