SEED EXCHANGE has been set up as an informal network of plant breeder-correspondents in connection to our project Peace with the Earth – Tracing Agricultural Memory, Refiguring Practice. 2017 – 2020 by visual artist, researcher and amateur plant breeder Åsa Sonjasdotter. Though the exhibition had to be postponed due to pandemic measures , we have been continuing with some of the planned activities within the current limitations.
Åsa’s research residency in Ireland in summer 2018 has contributed to her long-term enquiry into soil, habitat and dwelling histories. The point of departure was a call written by two Swedish suffragettes and peace activists: Elisabeth Tamm (1880–1958, an organic farmer and one of the first women in parliament) and Elin Wägner (1882-1949, a writer on matters of ecology, suffrage and peace) in 1940 that concluded in a simple but challenging way that humankind must make peace with Earth, not (only) on Earth. Following in their footsteps, Åsa investigates the overlooked knowledge and role of smallholder farmers and kitchen-gardeners, which were so often women and children. She explores the cracks, reading between the lines of dominant narratives.
We have been posting out seeds purchased from The Irish Seed Savers Association to various communities and individuals interested in sowing and sending us updates on the growing process and later about the harvesting in any format they find the easiest (video message, pics, email or written/printed letters). They have also received some instructions about the seeds and sowing and the last edition of ARCHIVE JOURNAL — ISSUE N°9 March – April 2020 co-produced by Archive Books, Berlin and Project Arts Centre, Dublin that introduces her ongoing research Peace with the Earth – Tracing Agricultural Memory, Refiguring Practice.
[1] Elisabeth Tamm, Elin Wägner, Fred med jorden, Stockholm, Bonniers, 1940. The text is translated to Engilsh by Katarina Trodden. It will be edited by Åsa Sonjasdotter and published by Archive Books, 2020
SEED EXCHANGE has been organised together with Gareth Kennedy, artist and Lecturer at NCAD Sculpture and Expanded practice, and artist Veronica Dyas, former Engagement Officer, Project Arts Centre.
You can find more about Åsa Sonjasdotter's practice here: https://asasonjasdotter.net/
