Beans and other vegetable proteins currently play a very important role in Jan Willem Kok’s life. This becomes apparent during a visit to his farm in Wessinghuizen.
That farm is inhabited by him and his partner Janke Westra, but is also mainly the art farm Artphy: a large part of it is used for exhibitions.
Piece of meat
The exhibition that is currently on display is called digestible. Ten artists participate and give their vision and opinion about a world in which more beans and other vegetable proteins are eaten in all kinds of ways. “This change in our diet is important,” says Kok. ,,Of course we will continue to eat a piece of meat, why not? But to meet the demand for protein and for sustainable agriculture, it is also important that we consume more legumes.”
Kok has also been involved in the ‘protein transition’ for quite some time outside his farm. As a member of the Zuid-Oost-Groningen Regional Cooperative (which devotes itself, among other things, to agriculture in that area), he participates in Fascinating. A project in which scientists, agricultural and other organizations think about ways in which the soil in the North can be worked in a sustainable way in the future.
“We are investigating, among other things, how we can make the cultivation of legumes and other vegetable protein crops profitable in Groningen, which crops best suit which soil,” says Kok. ,,That kind of research was reason for Janke and me and the other directors of Atrphy to let artists give their vision on this as well. You can now see the result in the exhibition space of the farm.”
Hanging carpets of dried beans
When entering that room you immediately come across hanging carpets of dried beans. A Ukrainian artist, Dasha Tsapenko, made them. A little further on are dry sausages that, upon closer examination, are plant-based. The eye cannot ignore giant beans made by the Dutch Mitzi Schreuder that dangle from the ceiling.
Other artists call on people to eat more beans or dive into history, back to a time when many more beans were consumed. Scarecrows, for example, are reminders of that time. And even the culture of the Mayas, which was rich in legumes, is discussed.
Turn the knob
“We invited the participating artists ourselves and luckily they said yes,” says Janke Westra. “We hope that their art will make visitors think. Because in the end we have to turn the knob a bit in our heads if we want to eat more vegetable proteins. We can do a lot of research, but we also have to want to.”
Jan Willem Kok then tells about one of the artists who stayed on the farm for some time. “She is vegan. All due respect to that, but I couldn’t. I still eat a piece of meat regularly and will continue to do so. But a little less than before. Beans or a meat substitute are more often on my plate.”
See you in the fall
Kok and Westra will have the giant beans, scarecrows and other works of art as ‘neighbors’ until mid-October. The exhibition will run until then. Part of it is also the publication of a book digestible with contributions from scientists and fiction writers about the protein transition. Deputy Henk Emmens receives the first copy.