Vivien Sansour (Palestine) is a believer in the magic of the simple things in life. This magic represented in her work where seeds and soil are brought to life through her practice as a conservationist and writer. Vivien feels at home in the fields where farmers plant their seeds and share their stories. In her practice, Vivien combines the work of conservation with the sensory world of image and sound. She works with farmers around the world to find and reintroduce threatened crop varieties, and collects stories to assert the ownership of seeds by communities and not companies. She is currently working on a biographical book that weaves together the stories of seeds with her own personal stories – both involving elements of challenge and triumph.

While in-residence at Delfina, Vivien will be working on her book as well as collaborating with farmers in the UK on a storytelling project through food.

Vivien was born in Palestine and grew up in Bethlehem. She does not live in one particular place as her work takes her to different communities around the world – from Palestine, California, Central America and the Caribbean.

She is the founder of The Palestine Heirloom Seed Library and the Traveling Kitchen project, both initiatives aim to bring seed heritage back to the dinner table so we can, “eat our history rather than store it away as a relic of the past”.

Resident’s website

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THEMATIC PROGRAMME

The Politics of Food:
Season 4


RESIDENCY SEASON

Spring 2019


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Please note all resident’s biographies are accurate at the time of their residency. For up-to-date bios please visit their website.


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Politics of Food

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Venice Biennale: Performance Programme, Part II

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