death of potato / Part I
Sound recording workshop at migrating kitchen aka Zentrum der Tat
5.11. &. 6. 11. 11am-5pm
In collaboration with
Couric Designs
Sebastian Meyer
ABU GABI
Kasho Chualan
Christoph Fellner
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the death of potato, a simple tuber – a crop that has played a complex and often tragic role in human history. This starchy survivor endured centuries of colonial exploitation and human suffering. Born in the shadows of the Andes, this humble vegetable quickly became a pawn in the hands of empires, thriving only to be harvested by the hands of the enslaved.
Our dear potato witnessed centuries of oppression, from the brutal extraction of its kin to fuel imperial appetites, to its role in famines that decimated populations. It saw the Civil Wars rage, conflicts fueled by greed and power, as throughout the times it was unearthed from the soil by the people fighting for a cause that barely recognized its worth.
In moments of desperation, it became the sustenance of uprisings, filling the bellies of those who dared to resist the yoke of oppression. But let us not forget the people fighting for their lives against the potato spreading, symbolizing both the promise and peril of agricultural reliance. It has fueled revolutions and spurred movements, reminding us of the profound interconnectedness of food, power, and identity.
Now, as we bury this once-revered potato, let us reflect on the dark irony of its life. Its end came not in glory, but as a mere ingredient in a recipe of colonization and struggle. So let us now acknowledge not only its nutritional contributions but also the heavy legacy it carries.
Dear potato. May you rest in a dark compost heap, alongside the memories of those who labored in its shadow, a silent witness to the horrors of history. Your journey has been both nourishing and tragic, and your lessons endure. May your memory inspire us to confront the injustices of the past and strive for a more equitable future.
Sorry, we’re already booked out –
but feel invited to come by and say hello!
Graphics by Kasper Langeder
Supported by Stadt Wien Kultur
