Special editon to support research on local traditions in Canada

I was invited to join an artist-in-residency in Canada the coming September, but due to exhibitions and my very full schedule, I needed to postpone to a later date.

Also, I need to make sure to have the funding for the trip and travels for my stay. For that reason, I have decided to have a special edition of three images of a total of 23 that will be on display in Switzerland. 

The photo will be printed on the greenest paper available made partially of hemp. The print will be signed and numbered (max of 30 copies) and will be shipped in plastic free materials as much as possible from recycled materials.

For your selection: mention Forest, Grass or Flowers in the Opmerking field during checkout.

About the images:

Globally nature is under heavy pressure caused by humans. In Europe, Switzerland has one of the richest and diverse flora but according to a 2020 report of the University of Bern 700 species are under threat. Straightening rivers, use of chemicals and increased monoculture are some reasons for the current situation. Knowing these causes however also provides us with information on potential solutions.

During my research, I photographed the places that different stakeholders in forestry, farming, water management, and the local community referred me to. Areas where biodiversity is either increasing or decreasing, or where changes in policies have been implemented. For example, leaving the remains of fallen trees, keeping field margins intact, having weeds in between crops, having streams go their own natural way, leave rocks in the fields. In other words, restoring the multitude of biotopes, so uniquely found in Switzerland.

I took water samples of rivers and streams that might contain agricultural and other toxic components. I cooked my film in blackberries and nettle, plants that will grow exponentially better due to climate change. Or did so with invasive plants or plants that I found at the moment of the shot.

Besides boiling my negatives, I sprayed chemicals on them, ranging from agricultural components like fertilizer or round-up to the antifreeze agent that I bought for my trip here. Also, other common household chemicals were used, like a garden green residue remover and an ecological weed remover.

The problem with the loss of biodiversity is that it goes slow and we don’t see it. The earlier mentioned report tells that they saw a decline almost everywhere. One of the biggest reasons is that areas of certain plants and animals are no longer connected. Our gardens and our cities need to be equally part of nature if we want to connect those areas and give some species still a chance.

Nature as it was, a rough wilderness that can restore itself, doesn’t exist anymore. However, we can improve the conditions for the current beauty that is still out there. A beauty that we can pass on as a gift to the hands of our children.