Colonialism on the Window Sill

Among the plants presented in the exhibition is the Norfolk Pine (Araucaria), which had been discovered on Norfolk Island during James Cook’s second voyage in 1774. The history of the African violet is intertwined with a German colonial expedition in 1886, an object from which is now in the Weltmuseum Wien collection. Geraniums (Pelargonia), a popular choice for our flower boxes, hail from South Africa, where they are used for medicinal purposes. This example illustrates the exploitation of the countries of origin, which do not profit from the commercialization of their domestic flora. International agreements such as the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are meant to establish safeguards and rules for including nations of origin in Western profits and to broach the issue of biopiracy, also in light of climate change.

The exhibition takes place in the participative space zam and provides free and easy access, offering a playful approach to complex matters.