In the mid-1990s, the association of Kortrijk pharmacists restored the medicinal garden of historic Baggaertshof, which had been originally established in 1638. They planted a mix of different plants and herbs there again. To this day, the herb garden is used and well maintained. This green opulence provides the perfect backdrop for Kasper Bosmans' artwork Poison. This series is based on the snail species Polymita picta, better known as the Cuban painted snail. This snail species alters the colour of its shell in order to appear poisonous, and therefore unappetising, to predators. They do this by eating a certain type of food during the rainy season. Over time, the beautiful shells became a collector's item and meanwhile the Cuban painted snail is threatened with extinction due to human greed and man’s obsession with unique objects. With this installation, Bosmans makes us reflect on the contrast between our love of beauty and our tendency to destroy all natural beauty around us through our own greed. The colourful but seemingly poisonous snails stand in stark contrast to the medicinal herbs of Baggaertshof. Bosmans used enamel, a material used in street signs, for his version of the snails.
