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 project is a collaboration with Björn Steinar Blumenstein.

Exhibitions

︎︎︎ 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