Translated from the Dutch proverb "op zwart zaad zitten" (literally translated: "to sit on black seeds"), it means to be broke or have little to no money. The origin of this proverb originally stems from something that would be said about birds in a birdcage. Birds peck at the seeds in their feeding tray, first selecting all the white seeds and leaving only the less tasty black seeds in their tray.

The practice of eating sunflower seeds, a custom shared by various cultures and performed as a public ritual, is sometimes stigmatized. The reference to the Dutch proverb highlights the "negative" connotation but aims to ridicule it. The act of sharing stories and people bonding over it underscores a stronger aspect of this ritual, which is emphasized by leaving the empty shells as a testament to togetherness.

The participative installation was created for the exhibition NICC x 25, a multi-layered event that took place at S.M.A.K. Ghent, celebrating the silver jubilee of NICC. To quote from their website: "This event marks a milestone for our artist-run organization, which has been dedicated to individual artists since 1998. [...] NICC x 25 reflects a moment in time when archive and aspiration converge."

On the occasion of this event, a publication with the same name as the event was released. This publication revolves around the NICC memorandum, advocating for the recognition of the social role of artists and providing concrete proposals to actualize this recognition. Subsequently, the publication was presented to policymakers and politicians in the Flemish cultural sector.
Zwart Zaad (conversation piece), 2023

Park bench, sunflower seeds, hand-printed paper bags
Dimensions variable

NICC x 25, S.M.A.K., Ghent

You can get a copy of the publication here.

Curated by Kasper De Vos, Céline Mathieu and Younes Baba-Ali

Organized by Nieuw Internationaal Cultureel Centrum (NICC)

Pictures by Bram Callaert
Installation view pictures by Anyuta Wiazemsky Snauwaert

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