Banana Story is an ongoing research project that highlights the problems deriving from the demand for non-seasonal goods and mundane products, inviting us to reflect on the origin of goods. How? By following the journey of a banana from Ecuador to Iceland: 12,534 km in 30 days on a cargo ship, passing through 33 different pairs of hands. The outcome are a series of unusually long 'made-in' labels, a banana passport and a short video journey on a container ship.
The investigation started off, confronted with huge amounts of food waste in Iceland. Situated in harsh climatic conditions, local fruit and vegetable production takes a great effort. Icelandic supermarket dumpsters full of immaculate fruits, are therefore a strange paradox.
The Banana Passport and a Banana Made-In Label for a standardized Cavendish banana raise a call to embrace the complex back story of an object that is easily taken for granted.
The investigation started off, confronted with huge amounts of food waste in Iceland. Situated in harsh climatic conditions, local fruit and vegetable production takes a great effort. Icelandic supermarket dumpsters full of immaculate fruits, are therefore a strange paradox.
The Banana Passport and a Banana Made-In Label for a standardized Cavendish banana raise a call to embrace the complex back story of an object that is easily taken for granted.
The project is a collaboration with Björn Steinar Blumenstein.
Research, Concept, Design Johanna Seelemann and Björn Steinar Blumenstein
Made-In Label Illustration Magnús Ingvar Ágústsson
Client
Johanna Seelemann and Björn Steinar Blumenstein
Made-In Label Illustration Magnús Ingvar Ágústsson
Client Victoria & Albert Museum London
Exhibitions
︎︎︎ 2022 'Travel as a Tool', Tønder Art Museum, Denmark2021
︎︎︎ 2019 'Food: Bigger Than The Plate', Victoria & Albert Museum, London
︎︎︎ 2023 'Food in New York: Bigger Than The Plate', Museum of the City of New York
︎︎︎ 2023 'At the Table’, curated by Tiiu Meiner and Rawad Baaklini, Garage Rotterdam
︎︎︎ 2022 'Mat: Mer än en måltid', Regional Museum Skåne
︎︎︎ 2022 'Travel as a Tool', Tønder Art Museum, Denmark2021
︎︎︎ 'Travel as a Tool', Vandalorum, Sweden: Banana Story
︎︎︎ 2021 'Travel as a Tool', Design Museum Helsinki: Banana Story
︎︎︎ 2020-2021 Zu Tisch, Vögele Kulturzentrum, Zürich: Banana Story
︎︎︎ 2019 'Food: Bigger Than The Plate', Victoria & Albert Museum, London
︎︎︎ 2018 The Magic Box, semi-permanent exhibition, M/S Museet for Søfart, Helsingør
