STORY BEHIND THE ART OF LARA GASTINGER

Abundant Future: Cultivating Diversity in Garden, Farm, and Field

Mexican Sour Gherkin

Melothria scabra

In my art, I gravitate towards the delicate, elegant and small details in our natural world. Thus, I was immediately attracted to the Mexican sour gherkin that looked like a miniature striped watermelon. I was intrigued by the small tendrils and the minute sizes of the fruits that reach a maximum of one inch.

This “cucamelon” is in the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae), though neither a cucumber nor a melon. It is an ancient crop from Mexico and Central America and was grown before the arrival of Western colonizers. Other common names for this garden vegetable include Mexican sour cucumber, Mexican miniature watermelon, mouse melon (sandia de ratón), pepquinos and sandita, which is translated as little watermelon. It can be used pickled, in stir-fries or eaten raw. It tastes like a cucumber with a hint of lime. 

I chose to compose this plant within a square format and I completely filled up the space equally with the creeping vines layered one over the other. This is how it grows, all tangled up and overlapping with the tendrils wrapping around anything they can find. Throughout the composition the small yellow flowers and precious fruits appear jewel-like and entice the viewer to search them out just like I did when discovering them myself.

I was able to obtain seeds to plant in my garden in spring 2019 and grew a few samples, although the fruits did not mature. This was a disappointment, but I connected with a home gardener on Instagram who grew Mexican sour gherkins. She graciously sent me fully mature specimens that I stored in plastic bags throughout the painting process so I could complete this work. I painted one vine at a time, composed the next vine sequentially over the first one, until the painting seemed to be balanced and full of leaves and fruits.

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Read more about this artist’s work: 21st Annual