Studio Dáárheen participated in the group exhibition ‘Digestible’ at artcenter Artphy in 2023.
‘Artist and speculative designer Nicole Spit gives her vision of the field bean of the future in 6 works of art. On display are her works of art, alienating and exciting objects, in which nitrogen nodules, ‘field bean blood’ and future agriculture are discussed.
An art-science research project with speculative design object concerning the field bean ‘Vicia Faba’. The field bean is a prospect for the proteïn transition in the province of Groningen in the Netherlands.
What is so special about this crop? How can we make it future proof? What is going to be the future of agriculture in this area if we listen to the farmers living in this area? The nitrogen fixing possibilities of the field bean are much needed in the current agriculture plans of the Netherlands. Are there ways to alter the crop with genetic modification, so that we can make it maximum beneficial for humans ánd for nature?’.
^ Here we see an enlargement of tubers of a field bean plant, showing the pink red fleshy inside.
Legumes, including the field bean, can fix nitrogen from the air in collaboration with ‘Rhizobacteria’ living in the soil and store it in root tubers. These root nodules arise after an infection of the bacteria. This infection is not dangerous for the plant, in fact, both the bean plant and the rhizobacteria benefit from it.
A hair root curls around the bacteria, after which an infection thread is formed. The bacteria can enter the root through these tubes and form root nodules there. The bacteria continue to live in the root of the field bean, with both the rhizobacteria and the plant benefiting from this cooperation. The bacteria ensure that nitrogen from the air is converted into usable nitrogen for the plant in exchange for sugars supplied by the plant.
The root nodules contain leghemoglobin, an iron-containing substance that, just like our blood, can bind oxygen and gives the nodules a pinkish color. The oxygen concentration is low enough not to interfere with nitrogen fixation, but high enough for the bacteria to breathe.
Could be seen at art space Artphy on from August 5 until October 22 2023.
This special group exhibition, dedicated to the protein transition, presents new works by international artists:
Anna Dumitriu, Ana Kun/Dan Perjovschi, Marc Bijl,
Mitzi Schreuder, Dasha Tsapenko, Nicole Spit, Maro Pebo, Danielle van Vree, Špela Petrič and Domenique Himmelsbach de Vries.
The exhibition promises to be a unique experience, in which art in relation to the protein transition is central.
The official opening was at August 5 by Tjeerd Jongsma,
director of Institute for Sustainable Process Technology and Fascinating.
Ten artists from Europe and South America, several scientists, performances, lectures and a concert…
Under the umbrella ‘Digestible’, the name of this exhibition, Artphy is developing many activities this summer.
Where: Kempkebosweg 4 , 9591VG Onstwedde
When: The exhibition at Artphy can be visited freely on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 13:00 to 17:00.
Or by appointment. Tel: 0653236241 The expo runs until October 22 in 2023.