After several months, the eggplants, chilies, corns and other crops in “LandGrab City” are already ripe. At 3pm, Dec 20, the first round of “happy garden” harvesting started in the Nanshan sub-venue for 09SZHKB so that citizens can be more involved in the Biennale.

Under the instruction of the staff of the Biennale, parents along with their children participated in the harvesting. In addition to bringing them the family fun that had been absent for a long time, this activity also helped the children to experience the life of vegetable farmers. After the harvesting, the staff there also asked questions to the participators. Every correct answer was awarded with a pack of fresh and pollution-free “happy vegetables” that can be brought home for a healthy dish.

Children were cutting chilies

In front of the generous prizes, all the little participators were enthusiastically racing to answer the questions.

A children giving the correct answer were receiving the prize from the staff.

Ideas behind the work: American architects Joseph Gerima and Jeffrey Johnson think it is a common misconception that the contemporary city is becoming increasingly disconnected from the countryside. In some cases it is actually becoming more rigidly connected. “LandGrab City”
proposes an examination of these cities as complex, multinational territorial systems no longer confined by their physical or administrative city limits.