Strange Eden { 68 images } Created 1 Nov 2022
Strange Eden, was originally shot as a commission for the WhiteSpaceBlack Box Gallery, looking at the seasonal migrant workers imported to labour in what is traditionally one of Switzerland's fertile agricultural areas, around the Bernese Seeland. Ironically much of the production now uses hydroponics - when the crops, organic and otherwise are suspended, the fertility of the famous soil they no longer touch, is irrelevant. Much of the remaining production is heavily mechanized, but with freak rains due to climate change, the machinery could no longer be employed in waterlogged fields, putting in doubt supermarket contracts, and forcing a return to labour intensive harvesting, by hand. The workers, have seasonal work visas, and are paid minimum Swiss wages, out of which they find their own lodging and food. Many return year after year.