WASTELAND ENCYCLOPAEDIA is art project by Agata Bielska in frames of Agrikultura – an exhibition of public artworks, installations, meals, performances, urban interventions, and events to take place outdoors in Hyllie, Malmo, in July/August 2017.
Why wasteland encyclopaedia?
I am fascinated in human interaction with plants. Plants are our constants companions – giving us oxygen, food, medicine, shelter, materials, mental well-being and much more.
I became intrigued by the landscape of Hyllie in Malmö: at first glance there is nothing unusual about this place. It looks like a typical wasteland area that can be found in suburbs of most of big cities all around world. This area, for some reasons remained unused or got returned to nature after losing its former purpose.
The original nature that must have existed here has been totally changed several times by humans hands. Masses of soil have been moved or brought there from other sites, and a completely new landscape has been created. Now the space has temporarily been left alone and wild plants have started to spontaneously recolonize.
There is something fascinating in observing transformative power of wild nature doing its work. But also sad in realizing that it might not regain its original, wild character.
In my work I envision a post-apocalyptic setting, where this place is the only nature resource left on the earth.
I want to invite people to kneel down to the courageous wild plants that are spontaneously growing on the site. These are mostly plants that are considered weeds, and not of any special value. I want to honour each of them, and explore possible uses of the plants generous offerings. For thst purpuse I make inventry of wild plants growing on the site, create encyclopeadia with informations about theirs edibility and medical use.
WASTELAND ENCYCLOPAEDIA:
- Hippophae rhamnoides – Sea buckthorn – Havtorn
- Lotus corniculatus, bird’s-foot trefoil, Käringtand
- Cornus sericea – Western dogwood – Videkornell
- Lythrum salicaria -Purple loosestrife – Fackelblomster
- Typha latifolia – Cattail, bulrush, great reedmace – Bredkaveldun
- Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) mead wort, Pride of the Meadow, Meadow Queen, Lady of the Meadow – älgört
- Valerian (Valleriana officinalis) – Läkevänderot/ vänderot
- Viper’s bugloss/ blueweed – Echium vulgare – Blåeld
- St John’s-wort -Hypericum perforatum – johannesört
- Hop clover (Trifolium campestre)- Jordklöver
- Red clover (Trifolium pratense) – Rotklöver
- White clover (Trifolium repens) – Vitklöver
- Vetch (Vica cracca/ sylvatica / villosa) – Vicker
- Tumble Mustard/ tall sisymbrium – Sisymbrium altissimum – Hamnsenap
- Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) – Palsternacka
- Dyer’s weed/yellow weed (Reseda luteola) – Färgreseda
- Field thistle, green thistle (Cirsium arvense) – Åkertistel
- Bull thistle/ common thistle (Cirsium vulgare) – Vägtistel
- Burdock, (Arctium lappa/ minus) gobō, edible burdock, beggar’s buttons, thorny burr, or happy major – Stor/liten kardborre
- Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), wild spinach, fat hen, goosefoot – svinmåla
- Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) – tussilago – Hästhov/Hästhovsört,
- Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – röllika
- Common chicory (Cichorium intybus) – Cikoria eller vägvårda,
- Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) – Renfana
- Senecio vulgaris / Senecio jacobaea
- Broadleaf plantain/greater plantain (Plantago major) Groblad/ gårdsgroblad
- English plantain, narrowleaf plantain, ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata)- Svartkämpar
- Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) common nettle – Brännässla
- Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) – Maskros
- Curly dock – (Rumex crispus) – Krusskräppa
- Bitter dock, broad-leaved dock, (Rumex obtusifolius) – Tomtskräppa
- Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium/Epilobium angustifolium) Mjölke/ rallarros
- Mugwort – Artemisia vulgaris – Gråbo
- Small-flowered crane’s-bill (Geranium pusillum) Sparvnäva
- Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) Rönnsumak
- Hairy cat’s ear/ false dandelion, (Hypochaeris radicata) – rotfibbla,
- Wild teasel/ fuller’s teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) , Kardvädd
- Large-flowered evening primrose (Oenothera glazioviana) – jättenattljus,
- Black mullein (Verbascum nigrum) – Mörkt kungsljus
- Queen Anne’s lace Daucus carota, vildmorot,
- Wood avens Geum urbanum, Nejlikrot,
- False mayweed (Tripleurospermum maritimum), Baldersbrå,
- Creeping cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans) Revfingerört
- Scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) Rödmire