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Marianne Hafeli-McMillan
Country:
Switzerland
Artist's Statement:
About the second worst fate that could befall our agrarian ancestors in the last several millenia was to have to eat their seed corn to survive. At least there was a chance of replenishing their stocks next season, otherwise they would starve to death the following winter. With the increasing likelihood of climate catastrophe, with the world's food supplies being manipulated by the multinational chemical and petrochemical corporations, with modern civilisations dependant on supermarket domination, it is imperative we learn to become self sufficient again, growing our own food and preserving as diverse a range of seeds for posterity as possible. Svalbard is humanity's doomsday safeguard. In the meantime, plant a few oxygen factories where ever one can, preferably edible ones, learn about permaculture from Mollison or Holmgren and join a seedsavers group to help preserve biodiversity in Australia.
Biography (condensed):
After having sown the seeds of an art career at the National Art School, Sir John Cass College in London, Kantonale Schuelen fuer Gestaltung in Biel and Berne, Neuchatel and Deakin Universities, Marianne had moved continents four times and became sidetracked by the added complications of apartheid, disenfranchisement and foreign languages as well as the usual family responsibilities. Now teaching oils with U3A, she is motivated to rekindle art as an adjunct to her lifelong and practising humanitarian and ecological philosophies and is delighted to be a part of the Treasure of Seeds exhibition.
