From Seed-as-Object to Seed-as-Relation in South Africa

Governments in South Africa and beyond are working to ratify new laws that limit and criminalize seed access and use. In response, a local and global resistance movement is working to keep seeds free and accessible. The idea of freedom is inherent to a seed, its very purpose is to share itself as widely as possible to ensure the continuity of its species while also providing material for further use. Yet these laws claim the exact opposite: seed is objectified and not seen in relation to all that rely on it, across the spectrums of species. Zayaan’s talk will focus on her multidisciplinary work with seed, land, and food, based in sociopolitical, ecological, and spiritual-political perspectives.

Zayaan Khan works as an artist using local urban and ecological relationships to understand the elements that build ecosystems. Through curiosity, research, experimentation and engagement, her work finds a resting place through food as a means of understanding the world, particularly seed, land, and our collective heritage. 

Download: CHRA_Web_Poster_Zayaan_Khan_v3.pdf