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:

  1. Hippophae rhamnoides – Sea buckthorn  – Havtorn
  2. Lotus corniculatus, bird’s-foot trefoil, Käringtand
  3. Cornus sericea – Western dogwood  – Videkornell
  4. Lythrum salicaria -Purple loosestrife –  Fackelblomster
  5. Typha latifolia – Cattail, bulrush,  great reedmace – Bredkaveldun
  6. Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) mead wort, Pride of the Meadow, Meadow Queen, Lady of the Meadow –  älgört
  7. Valerian (Valleriana officinalis) – Läkevänderot/ vänderot
  8. Viper’s bugloss/ blueweed – Echium vulgare – Blåeld
  9. St John’s-wort  -Hypericum perforatum – johannesört
  10. Hop clover (Trifolium campestre)- Jordklöver
  11. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) – Rotklöver
  12. White clover (Trifolium repens) – Vitklöver
  13. Vetch (Vica cracca/ sylvatica / villosa) – Vicker
  14. Tumble Mustard/ tall sisymbrium – Sisymbrium altissimum – Hamnsenap
  15. Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) – Palsternacka
  16. Dyer’s weed/yellow weed (Reseda luteola) – Färgreseda
  17. Field thistle, green thistle (Cirsium arvense) – Åkertistel
  18. Bull thistle/ common thistle (Cirsium vulgare) – Vägtistel
  19. Burdock, (Arctium lappa/ minus) gobō, edible burdock, beggar’s buttons, thorny burr, or happy major – Stor/liten kardborre
  20. Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), wild spinach, fat hen, goosefoot – svinmåla
  21. Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) – tussilago – Hästhov/Hästhovsört,
  22. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) –  röllika
  23. Common chicory (Cichorium intybus) – Cikoria eller vägvårda,
  24. Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) – Renfana
  25. Senecio vulgaris / Senecio jacobaea
  26. Broadleaf plantain/greater plantain (Plantago major) Groblad/ gårdsgroblad
  27. English plantain, narrowleaf plantain, ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata)- Svartkämpar
  28. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) common nettle – Brännässla
  29. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) – Maskros
  30. Curly dock – (Rumex crispus) – Krusskräppa
  31. Bitter dock, broad-leaved dock, (Rumex obtusifolius) – Tomtskräppa  
  32. Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium/Epilobium angustifolium)  Mjölke/ rallarros
  33. Mugwort – Artemisia vulgaris – Gråbo
  34. Small-flowered crane’s-bill (Geranium pusillum) Sparvnäva
  35. Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) Rönnsumak
  36. Hairy cat’s ear/ false dandelion,  (Hypochaeris radicata) – rotfibbla,
  37. Wild teasel/ fuller’s teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) , Kardvädd
  38. Large-flowered evening primrose (Oenothera glazioviana) – jättenattljus,
  39. Black mullein (Verbascum nigrum)  – Mörkt kungsljus
  40. Queen Anne’s lace Daucus carota, vildmorot,
  41. Wood avens Geum urbanum, Nejlikrot,
  42. False mayweed (Tripleurospermum maritimum), Baldersbrå,
  43. Creeping cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans) Revfingerört
  44. Scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) Rödmire