A Law of Wheat : Slow Wheat Project

Artist:Chaco Kato

Wheat project:study, detail

"It has been 15 years since I settled in the semi-countryside in Melbourne. Here, I have been enjoying my own way of 'Slow Art'.

There is no clear definition of 'Slow Art'. It doesn't need to have any concrete form, like craft, sculpture or painting. It is rather more significant to engage with what is happening around us and revivify and re-evaluate the world at our feet. Such engagement will change the landscape of our everyday life, and will slowly awaken something hidden inside of us.

In this project 'The law of Wheat: Slow Wheat Project', we will grow wheat grass and barley seedlings to make freshly squeezed wheat grass juice. Wheat is known as the ingredients for Udon noodle and bread. The young seedlings of wheat plants are also called 'super food' ,as they contain great amounts of nutrition, such as enzymes, vitamin C, B, carotene, iron, calcium etc., more than any other vegetables. "

"In Melbourne's street corner 'juice bar' it is a popular custom amongst health-conscious locals to start their day with a shot glass of wheat grass juice. This wheat grass is also known as an ingredient of 'Aojiru (green juice)' in Japan.

By just paying a little attention and care, we can grow the wheat grass very easily. As each seed grows into a plant it provides us with the energy of the sun and its fresh greenness.
Audiences will be invited to participate in sowing the seeds, and come back to see the process of the growth of their own pot of seedling, then people can squeeze the juice for themselves. Please enjoy a precious slow moment of slow art/ slow food."

Collaboration:
The organic wheat cultivated by the members of "Mukashi no asobi" and "Children of Omi Elementary School" (groups supported by Omi Elementary School of Nagano prefecture) has been kindly donated for this project.