Z33 presents 'Our Invisible Hands': an exhibition on the impact of temporary labour in the agricultural sector

Each year, millions of seasonal workers from southern and eastern Europe come to the west to work in local fields and greenhouses. Their much-needed participation in the harvest contributes to the rich agricultural economy that feeds all of Europe and beyond. Our Invisible Hands visualizes this rural reality in all its nuances.

The travel restrictions during the corona crisis made the vulnerability of the system clearly visible. Borders closed and the call for local help during harvest was launced. The Seasonal Neighbours collective gathered sixteen artists, writers, architects, filmmakers and designers who saw the opportunity of this situation. They temporarily went to work as seasonal labourers, and used this personal experience as the starting point for artistic projects about living together and seasonality at the European countryside.

Our Invisible Hands shows the impact of temporary labour in the agricultural sector, and the perspective of the working man in the rural landscape. Starting from the real-life reality in the field, the exhibition develops themes of rituals, boundaries, communication, identity, coming home, and the relationship between humans and plants. Seasonal labor comes and goes, and is local. How can we understand this ever-recurring migratory flow from within?

Artists: Anastasia Eggers, Pia Jacques de Dixmude, Collectif dallas, Karolina Michalik, Claire Chassot, Ines Marita Schärer & Caroline Profanter, Jonathan De Maeyer, Ciel Grommen & Maximiliaan Royakkers, Mona Thijs, Yacinth Pos, Ioana Lupascu

Curators: Ils Huygens and Annelies Thoelen

Seasonal Neighbours
​Our Invisble Hands
​30.01 - 17.04.2022
​Z33

With support of the Flemish Government, Vocatio fund, the Creative Industries Fund NL, de Boerenbond and many crowdfunders.

by Ioana Lupascu