Gaby
German photographer Uli Westphal has spent several years not only as an artist but also as a researcher. Each time he strolled through the street markets of Berlin, he was captivated by the diverse shapes and colors of agricultural produce. Among the familiar varieties of vegetables and fruits, he noticed some he had never seen before, especially in supermarkets.
Uli Westphal began to wonder: why have these plant products become so rare? His reflections on the dwindling varieties around the globe inspired him to embark on a personal research project, as reported by Designboom.
This endeavor spanned over a decade and was accompanied by the release of fresh photo collections for a global series titled “Cultivar.” In this series, Uli Westphal captured the vibrant diversity of agricultural crops, showcasing both the familiar and the rare.
Initially, the photographer reached out to farmers from around the world, who assisted him in his meticulous work. Agrarians from Europe, Latin America, and the United States sent him ripe samples or seeds, from which Uli personally grew unusual varieties of vegetables and fruits. He then photographed them.
As a result, variations of pumpkins, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, potatoes, cabbage, peppers, pears, and more came to life.
Humanity has lost the most varieties in the last half-century
As Uli Westphal noted in the series’ annotation, when agriculture was just beginning, people cultivated a vast number of plant varieties to meet their daily needs. They consistently worked to preserve these crops and spread them over great distances. However, due to the commercialization of agriculture, farmers shifted their focus to a group of “high-yield, robust, ‘beautiful,’ uniform, and predictable varieties.” In other words, those that ripen quickly, yield expectedly good harvests, and have an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Gradually, these varieties displaced a significant number of traditional plants that our ancestors consumed. Most of the varieties that have largely disappeared can now be seen only in Uli Westphal’s photographs. When people view his work, they often admit they had no idea such a wide range of vegetable and fruit varieties existed.
In his research, the photographer found that most varieties ever cultivated by humans have vanished from the global agricultural map over the past 50 years.
This signifies a reduction in our genetic diversity and a loss of cultural and culinary heritage. Only a few farmers are dedicated to reviving disappearing plants on their plots. Therefore, paying tribute to them, the artist tirelessly continues to expand his collection of photographs for the Cultivar series, showcasing the astonishing diversity of varieties.
Restoring this diversity in the face of global warming is an exceedingly complex task. Uli Westphal is also deeply concerned about synthetic biology and genetic engineering, which reintroduce significantly altered plants into ecosystems. As the photographer stated on his website, he is generally not opposed to fundamental research in genetics. However, he believes that we should not rush into synthetic biology as a design tool or quick technological fix, especially when it comes to food production.
