Curated by Sophie Haslinger. 09.04.2026 – 14.02.2027 KunstHausWien
By bringing together light, water and seeds, Ackroyd & Harvey create a work from which nature itself seems to speak. The central text comes from a quote by Helene Schulze of the London Freedom Seed Bank, a grassroots seed network. It emerged from a conversation with the artists: “Seed saving is a form of grassroots, convivial biodiversity conservation. It is about building collective care in the face of increasing ecological and political precarity. It is about mischief and refusing to be complicit in extractive regimes which pillage people and the planet.”
The fragmented and rhythmic quotation used for the artwork underscores the central importance of preserving and sharing seeds as a practice of collective care and a form of active resistance. At the same time, it refers to power structures in which nature is treated as a mere resource and seeds are economized and privatized. It is no coincidence that the form of the work is reminiscent of a banner used in demonstrations. Ackroyd & Harvey’s art amplifies the voices of individual actors, emphasizes the relevance of active participation, and makes the political dimension of collective action visible.
The work, conceived especially for this exhibition and was realized on site, it grew, lived, dried and will be composted after the exhibition ends.
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