Small Steps Towards Sustainability - Acclimatize, for Moderna Museet
When looking at food through my camera lens, I start noticing things. How the glossy peel of a plum shifts from yellow to purple, the way light catches at the very top of a bowl of lingonberries, the extraordinary thickness of the coffee creamer, the intricate patterns of the currant leaves.To live sustainably, for me, means to be mindful of where I spend my energy. To create pockets of space in my everyday where I can start noticing those little things. To subtract rather than add and enjoy fewer things but enjoy it fully.I find it nearly impossible to even grasp the vastness of the global food scarcity the world is facing right now. Let alone knowing how to fix it. The challenge is too big for a single individual to tackle.
However, one thing that each one of us can do, in our own modest way, is to truly experience the value of the food we have in front of us. And to share that experience at the table with our loved ones. To build a community around it that celebrates simplicity and pleasure.Channeling all my creativity into the kitchen and capturing what I experience there is my way of figuring out the essentials of life. Learning how to consume with intention and to make use of the food I buy. The feeling of richness that comes from sitting down at the table with a bowl of something fragrant and steaming that I just cooked from the simplest of ingredients hits me like
whoa!
every time.Before I know it, that time and care I invested in the kitchen starts to multiply. Pollinating other areas of my life as well, and extending its roots to yours. As far as I’m concerned, that is how one grows awareness. By means of inspiration. And that’s what my creativity is for.
This text I wrote for the sustainability & creativity project Acclimatize, curated by Moderna Museet (The Swedish Museum of Modern Art). They reached out to me and a handful of other creatives a while ago, asking if I wanted to create an entry to this online art project, sharing my perspective on sustainability through creative expression. The whole idea behind Acclimatize, to create a think tank of artistic inspiration towards a more sustainable world, is a mission that speaks so true to my heart, so of course I wanted to participate!Never could I imagine a such a natural bridge forming between my Human Ecology and Fine Arts background. The fact that I get to be a part of this means the world to me. In my entry, I chose to focus on the small, pleasurable things that it all boils down to, at the end of the day. Along with the text you just read, I picked out 6 photos (displayed at the top of this post) that again and again reminds me of why I go through all this hard work "only" to share pictures of berries :'DSome of the other artists involved include Olafur Eliasson (who just happens to be one of my all time favorite artists), Isaac Julien, Bea Szenfeldt and bloggers such as Hanna Göransson, Babes in Boyland and Flora Wiström.Acclimatize is an open exhibition intended to multiply and engage as many people as possible, meaning you can submit your entry as well and get your work displayed at this virtual exhibition. The project website will be active until 10th of December, 2016. So if you have anything you wanna share, a photo, a text, a video - go share it! #Acclimatize #ModernaMuseetWhat are some small things that you think everybody can do towards sustainability? Let's continue this conversation in the comments!Have a cosy evening now, and check back in on Saturday for a new recipe :-)Hugs,AgnesPs. I chose to participate in this project without any compensation whatsoever. Just thought you should know that :-) All photographs, recipes and content are Cashew Kitchen originals, unless otherwise indicated. Feel free to go wild on pinning, but remember to always link back here and credit Cashew Kitchen when sharing. Thanks!