The Vegetable Parliament: BUILDING THE PARLIAMENT
It has been weeks since we were planted onto Berlin soil and placed in a temporary house they call “the germinator”. We have been growing and peeking out through the glass to try and see our new home. Soon, “The Vegetable Parliament” opens – the reason why we travelled this far. We will grow onto its structure, and weave onto the willows and local timber that will create a new milpa.
We want to expand, spread our roots and climb high so we can see the new sky that awaits us. We want to get to know all that come and take shelter in our parliament. You are all welcome to stay with us; squirrels, birds, weeds, insects, humans, rain, sun, wind… Come along, let’s build a new ecosystem together – one that hopefully benefits us all.
The second stage of “The Vegetable Parliament” starts on the 9th of May with “Building the Parliament”. A large-scale inhabitable sculpture, formed by 11 ladders placed in a circle aiming to the infinite sky will be installed in the front garden of silent green. Vegetables from various Mexican milpas will grow onto the installation and share their voice with the Berlin audience in the coming stages of the project.
The Vegetable Parliament
This milpa consists of flying potatoes, edible flowers, climbing pumpkins, hanging watermelons and different kinds of coloured beans, among others. We travelled here from various Mayan milpas in Southern Mexico – where we had been for centuries, but now we are on different grounds… they call it Berlin. In our ecosystem, resources (water, light, soil) are used in a complementary way, and all participants benefit from each other’s presence. We were brought here to slowly weave onto a temporary installation that will become our parliament.
Here, we get together – humans and non-humans – to grow, to connect, to create something new. A place built by feelings, cosmovision, social relations, biodiversity and knowledge. Here, we dream of new realities. At its core is a living inhabitable installation; a speculative parliament for utopian visions and possible futures of local socio-/ecosystems. As it evolves throughout the seasons, each visitor and each activation becomes an intricate part of the milpa.
Visit us, become a part of us. We invite you to think differently, to leave any preconceived ideas of the possible behind. To play seriously, or as children play – when we play, we believe it.
Programme
14 Mar 2025: part one SEEDING THE MILPA
09 May 2025: part two BUILDING THE PARLIAMENT
04, 25 Jun, 11, 22-24 Jul 2025: part three THE GROWING SESSIONS
14 Aug 2025: part four THE VEGETABLE OPERA
13 Sep 2025: part five THE CONQUERING BANQUET
Friday, May 9
Garden
Start: 6 pm
Admission free
Team
Artistic Director: José Délano
Garden Concept: Montserrat Peniche, tlayolan Maiskultur in Berlin
Curator “The Growing Sessions”: Christian Hiller
Musical Director “The Vegetable Opera”: Nicholas Bussmann
Author “The Vegetable Opera”: Santiago Elordi
Food Artist “The Conquering Banquet”: Inés Lauber
Technical Production “Building the Parliament”: Finn Fukas
Industrial Design: Felipe Araya
Graphic Design: Susann Zielinksi
Public Relations: Wayra Schübel
Text: Lianne Mol & José Délano
Documentation: Edgard Berendsen
Creative Producer: Lianne Mol
“The Vegetable Parliament” is funded by Hauptstadtkulturfonds.