Japan
Maya Minder MICUL MICUL© Nasa

Swissnex Window #2: Green Open Food Evolution

Algae produces about 70% of the world’s oxygen and is considered a possible key to addressing aspects of the energy and climate crisis. In this installation, Maya Minder explores seaweed as a familiar part of the Japanese diet. Looking at tables around the world, there seems to be great potential for broader consumption.

Green Open Food Evolution: Imagining a Homo Photosyntheticus

What if humanity evolved to thrive solely on algae, coexisting and co-evolving with these extraordinary beings from the protista kingdom? Could we, through speculative history and ecological imagination, become fully autotrophic and live as Homo Photosyntheticus?

Green Open Food Evolution envisions the kitchen of the future, integrating design, performance, biohacking, and cooking into a dynamic installation and film. Open-ended and procedural, the project reflects Maya Minder’s research-driven practice, which delves into food narratives, evolutionary biology, and relational aesthetics.

The accompanying workshop, “MICUL MICUL – Algae Kitchen Lab,” invites participants to dive into the world of seaweed, creating and sharing recipes while enjoying the dishes together. This hands-on experience explores the transformative power of interdependent relationships, examining the changes they inspire both individually and collectively.

Workshop

About the Artist

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    Bio

    Maya Minder

    Artist

    Maya Minder studied Art history at the University of Zurich and MA Fine Arts at Zurich University of Arts. Her research based practice circle around the topics of food stories, evolutionary biology and relational aesthetics within practices of cooking, biohacking, performance and media based installa- tions. Her aim is to share collective storytell- ing and embodiment of knowledge within ecologi- cal thinking. Aslo working as a curator she is the co-president of the International Hackteria Soci- ety, Swiss Mechatronic Art Society (SGMK) and board member of Foodculture Days, Switzerland. She is also part of the Fungi Cosmology project an art/ science based exchange between Brazil, Chile and Switzerland funded by Pro Helvetia South America. Exhibitions, workshops and conferences at: Kuns- thaus Zurich, Kunsthalle Zurich, ARKO Art Center, Seoul, Serpentine Gallery, London, Powerstation of Art, Shanghai, ByArtMatters, Hangzhou, Collegi- um Helveticum, Zurich, Jeu de Paume and Cité Inter- national des Arts, Paris, Kanazawa 21st CE Museum, Swiss Embassy in Japan, Ars Electronica, Nomina- tions, Awards and Residency by Art Explora, KADIST Award, Pax Award, Pro Helvetia, Migros Kulturproz- ent, a.o.

Partners

  • Swissnex
  • Presence Switzerland
  • Art2M
  • Vitality.Swiss
  • Adecco

Contact

    Fiammetta Pennisi

    Head of Art-Science
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