Mood indigo. @plasticp1 @pocketarts #dementia
Sunday 24 April 2016
Sitting at our kitchen table where she has sat hundreds of times before Padma says "I am lost".
Continuing with research into the history of global sea trade, especially early trade in spice, dyes, fabric and sugar and confirm that it is the story of the slave trade. Making Mood Indigo pieces and playing Nina Simone.
South End Green Market Stall beside Hampstead Heath Station
Expensive, but high quality; fancy neighbourhood.
£38.50 Cherry tomatoes, 8 apples, large papaya, 2 small cucumbers, oak leaf salad, 2 limes, 2 avocados, large punnet strawberries, 4 pears, 2 pomegranates, 2x blueberries, massive bunch red grapes, carrots, fennel, artichokes,2 large mangoes, green beans, aubergine, melon, 4 sweet potatoes, bunch asparagus, large celeriac
Nautical Perspectives: My work on show : Deception Narratives on @a_nartblogs @plasticp1 @Spice_Mountain @stKats
Wednesday 13 April 2016
I am feeling delighted that I have been selected for the "Nautical Perspectives" exhibition to be held at Commodities House, St Katherine's Dock, between 1st and 15th of May. I will be showing 3 works which are concerned with the following three narratives, found when researching the story of international food trade: These are all narratives of deceit:
1. Phoenix Egg
Context:
In the 1300s, before the establishment of the sea routes, spice and fabrics were traded by Middle Eastern and North African traders who went along the silk road, taking goods back and forth. Spices were an incredibly luxurious commodity, prized highly by the elites of Europe and commanding very high prices. Most of this trade came across the Mediterranean and into Venice. The traders were aware of the treasure they had, and for a very long time they made up stories: Stories to defend their trade. But also I like to think of them making up stories as a way to make the long hazardous journeys bearable, to make themselves feel brave and less vulnerable to being robbed. At this time nutmeg was literally worth more than its weight in gold, it is often stated that a pound of nutmeg was worth the same as seven fattened oxen in 1393.(*1a) The price of my piece in this show is determined by the current price of 7 fattened cattle at market (*1b).
Story:
They told of dragons and phoenix who guarded the spices in the East and the adventures they had in trying to release the spices from their protection, of winning battles with these monsters and defeating dangers in the pursuit of spice. They told these stories to the traders in Europe, and for a long time the traders in Europe stayed away, but with so much wealth to be made....
2. Chilli on Gold Square
Context
Sea routes to Asia were established going East but they were long and dangerous. The second narrative behind my work is the reason the chilli pepper got its name. So the sailors had been trying, as we all know from school, to find a quicker way to India and the Spice Islands, so jealously fought over by the British and Dutch. But instead of reaching India they reached America, and there was a desperation to find pepper. Pepper was so valuable it was sometimes used as currency, and certainly plenty of piratical raids went on across the seas to attain possession of this spice.
Story
1. Phoenix Egg
Context:
In the 1300s, before the establishment of the sea routes, spice and fabrics were traded by Middle Eastern and North African traders who went along the silk road, taking goods back and forth. Spices were an incredibly luxurious commodity, prized highly by the elites of Europe and commanding very high prices. Most of this trade came across the Mediterranean and into Venice. The traders were aware of the treasure they had, and for a very long time they made up stories: Stories to defend their trade. But also I like to think of them making up stories as a way to make the long hazardous journeys bearable, to make themselves feel brave and less vulnerable to being robbed. At this time nutmeg was literally worth more than its weight in gold, it is often stated that a pound of nutmeg was worth the same as seven fattened oxen in 1393.(*1a) The price of my piece in this show is determined by the current price of 7 fattened cattle at market (*1b).
 |
| Phoenix Egg |
They told of dragons and phoenix who guarded the spices in the East and the adventures they had in trying to release the spices from their protection, of winning battles with these monsters and defeating dangers in the pursuit of spice. They told these stories to the traders in Europe, and for a long time the traders in Europe stayed away, but with so much wealth to be made....
2. Chilli on Gold Square
Context
Sea routes to Asia were established going East but they were long and dangerous. The second narrative behind my work is the reason the chilli pepper got its name. So the sailors had been trying, as we all know from school, to find a quicker way to India and the Spice Islands, so jealously fought over by the British and Dutch. But instead of reaching India they reached America, and there was a desperation to find pepper. Pepper was so valuable it was sometimes used as currency, and certainly plenty of piratical raids went on across the seas to attain possession of this spice.
 |
| Chilli on Gold Square |
Columbus craved peppercorns, had built his voyage on the promise of bringing back pepper. But peppercorns did not grow in South America. Rather than accept defeat, the hot chillis which did grow in South America were rebranded peppers.
3. South Sea Bubble
Context :
The third narrative is from the South Sea Bubble Company directors. The British and Spanish were at war over who could control trade with South America, the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714). Due to this war the British Government was in debt. In 1711 the South Sea Company was set up and in opposition to the Bank of England took over a large share of Government debt in exchange for monopoly rights to trade with South America, modelled on the monopoly trade enjoyed profitably by the East India Company. However this promise only had any meaning if the British won the war, and then they didn't.
The treaty of Utrecht ended the war in 1713, only two years later, so the South Sea Company now held British Government debt and only very limited trading rights with the remaining British South American colonies; select Islands in the Caribbean and British Guyana. It was 1717 before any South Sea Trading ships even set sale. South Sea Company ships were limited and the company profits were based on slave trade and interest on loans to the British government, but when has that stopped a good story? Certainly the slave trade was not an appealing one, so...
Story
In an effort to increase investment the South Sea Company Directors told stories, exaggerated stories of the profits they were making, and of the treasures to be found in South Sea trading. Bubble stories with no substance except a shiny surface.
Which through 1720 first lead to rapid rises in stock valuations, but by Autumn in the same year, price crashes and prosecutions happened, Company and Government Officials were accused and found guilty.
And this bubble, in the way of bubbles, created more bubbles, more crazy investment companies on the same model, and investment frenzy, with share prices in all sorts of dubious companies bubbling up. In January 1720 shares in the South Sea Company were £128 by May £550, by June, after receiving a Royal Charter £1050, but in July......in July the investors lost confidence, in August stock was valued at £800, and September £175, and across Britain people had lost their fortunes, there was a massive economic crash. *2
I invite you to come to the "Nautical Perspectives" exhibition at Commodity Quay, St Katherine's Dock, just next door to the Tower of London. It will be open from 1st to 15th May 2016.
And thank you to a_nblogs who are promoting the a_n feature of this blog this week.
The shop:
For this post I have researched the current price of spice at Spice Mountain, relocated from Borough Market to nearby, and from my local corner shop and online "ethical" suppliers. I have not come across a great deal of spice suppliers in street markets but would like to hear from you if you know of some.
Spice Mountain, traceable sourced spices
Guajillo dried chilli 50g £4
ground nutmeg 40g £2.40
Sri Lankan Peppercorns 90g £3
Corner shop
Fudco whole Indian dried chilli 25g £1
Millstone ground nutmeg prod more than 1 country 52g £2.50
White Pearl Peppercorns " " " " " 100g £1.70
Ethically Essentials online
Pepper corns 25g £1.09
Ground Nutmeg 25g £0.89
Chilli powder 25g £1.05
*1a On repeated sites in the internet it is stated that a German Price table indicated that the price of 1 lb of nutmeg in 1393 was the same as 7 fattened oxen, but I can't find the original source table anywhere. So is this another story too?
*1b Market Prices, Farmers Weekly
*2 All figures here are sourced from the Harvard College Library website and its publications about the South Sea Bubble
The treaty of Utrecht ended the war in 1713, only two years later, so the South Sea Company now held British Government debt and only very limited trading rights with the remaining British South American colonies; select Islands in the Caribbean and British Guyana. It was 1717 before any South Sea Trading ships even set sale. South Sea Company ships were limited and the company profits were based on slave trade and interest on loans to the British government, but when has that stopped a good story? Certainly the slave trade was not an appealing one, so...
 |
| South Sea Bubble |
In an effort to increase investment the South Sea Company Directors told stories, exaggerated stories of the profits they were making, and of the treasures to be found in South Sea trading. Bubble stories with no substance except a shiny surface.
Which through 1720 first lead to rapid rises in stock valuations, but by Autumn in the same year, price crashes and prosecutions happened, Company and Government Officials were accused and found guilty.
And this bubble, in the way of bubbles, created more bubbles, more crazy investment companies on the same model, and investment frenzy, with share prices in all sorts of dubious companies bubbling up. In January 1720 shares in the South Sea Company were £128 by May £550, by June, after receiving a Royal Charter £1050, but in July......in July the investors lost confidence, in August stock was valued at £800, and September £175, and across Britain people had lost their fortunes, there was a massive economic crash. *2
I invite you to come to the "Nautical Perspectives" exhibition at Commodity Quay, St Katherine's Dock, just next door to the Tower of London. It will be open from 1st to 15th May 2016.
And thank you to a_nblogs who are promoting the a_n feature of this blog this week.
The shop:
For this post I have researched the current price of spice at Spice Mountain, relocated from Borough Market to nearby, and from my local corner shop and online "ethical" suppliers. I have not come across a great deal of spice suppliers in street markets but would like to hear from you if you know of some.
Spice Mountain, traceable sourced spices
Guajillo dried chilli 50g £4
ground nutmeg 40g £2.40
Sri Lankan Peppercorns 90g £3
Corner shop
Fudco whole Indian dried chilli 25g £1
Millstone ground nutmeg prod more than 1 country 52g £2.50
White Pearl Peppercorns " " " " " 100g £1.70
Ethically Essentials online
Pepper corns 25g £1.09
Ground Nutmeg 25g £0.89
Chilli powder 25g £1.05
*1a On repeated sites in the internet it is stated that a German Price table indicated that the price of 1 lb of nutmeg in 1393 was the same as 7 fattened oxen, but I can't find the original source table anywhere. So is this another story too?
*1b Market Prices, Farmers Weekly
*2 All figures here are sourced from the Harvard College Library website and its publications about the South Sea Bubble
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