Seeds of Complex Heritage
Maiz Morada
ZEA MAYS
Purple Corn, commonly known as Maiz Morado, is one of the most important crops in Peru because it holds a rich cultural background dating back to pre-Inca times. Purple corn is native to the mid-elevation regions of central Peru; historically it was grown and utilized on both coastlines and in the highlands of the Andes. Purple corn serves as the foundation for many traditional practices and forms an essential part of Peru’s culinary heritage. It is the base of chicha morada, a ceremonial beverage, and mazamorra morada, a popular dessert. These two uses epitomize the deep significance the crop represents in Peruvian society– as nourishment and a symbol of cultural identity and heritage.
Maize, in general, played a central role in the colonization of the Americas, deeply intertwined with the exploitation of Indigenous and enslaved African labor. European settlers quickly adopted maize as a vital crop, essential for the survival and expansion of their colonies. However, its cultivation was often enforced through brutal systems like the encomienda, where Indigenous peoples were forced to grow maize to feed the colonizers and for export. This exploitation was further extended to enslaved Africans, who labored in the fields under harsh conditions. The widespread demand for maize contributed to the displacement of Indigenous agricultural practices and reinforced colonial control over local populations. Despite its exploitation, maize remained a symbol of cultural resilience for Indigenous peoples, who continued to cultivate it as a part of their resistance against colonial oppression.
SEED SAVERS
Aterraterra Lab, Palermo (Italy) ︎︎︎
Eixarcolant, Barcelona (Spain) ︎︎︎
Motif Art Studio, Samara Camp (Western Sahara) ︎︎︎
Tlayolan, Berlin (Germany) ︎︎︎
Wolves Lane Centre, London (United Kingdom) ︎︎︎
Maiz Morada
ZEA MAYS
Purple Corn, commonly known as Maiz Morado, is one of the most important crops in Peru because it holds a rich cultural background dating back to pre-Inca times. Purple corn is native to the mid-elevation regions of central Peru; historically it was grown and utilized on both coastlines and in the highlands of the Andes. Purple corn serves as the foundation for many traditional practices and forms an essential part of Peru’s culinary heritage. It is the base of chicha morada, a ceremonial beverage, and mazamorra morada, a popular dessert. These two uses epitomize the deep significance the crop represents in Peruvian society– as nourishment and a symbol of cultural identity and heritage.
Maize, in general, played a central role in the colonization of the Americas, deeply intertwined with the exploitation of Indigenous and enslaved African labor. European settlers quickly adopted maize as a vital crop, essential for the survival and expansion of their colonies. However, its cultivation was often enforced through brutal systems like the encomienda, where Indigenous peoples were forced to grow maize to feed the colonizers and for export. This exploitation was further extended to enslaved Africans, who labored in the fields under harsh conditions. The widespread demand for maize contributed to the displacement of Indigenous agricultural practices and reinforced colonial control over local populations. Despite its exploitation, maize remained a symbol of cultural resilience for Indigenous peoples, who continued to cultivate it as a part of their resistance against colonial oppression.
SEED SAVERS
Aterraterra Lab, Palermo (Italy) ︎︎︎
Eixarcolant, Barcelona (Spain) ︎︎︎
Motif Art Studio, Samara Camp (Western Sahara) ︎︎︎
Tlayolan, Berlin (Germany) ︎︎︎
Wolves Lane Centre, London (United Kingdom) ︎︎︎