Jardin Nka was a project to activate an urban wasteland awaiting construction, through celebration of its agricultural past. It worked towards creating links with the future urban project and building an identity for the “new” neighbourhood.

Nka means create, make, invent or art in the Nigerian dialect Igbo. In Basaa (Cameroon), it indicates discourse, debate or exchange.

Jardin Nka was a two-year residency on a hectare of wasteland, planting vegetables and creating performances, agricultural rituals, wild-walks and wildflower observations. The space was open twice a week for neighbours, passersby and invited groups to garden, rehearse, or make totems, windmills, scarecrows or animal puppets. We pruned a winding path through the long grasses, gradually building ‘islands’ to visit: the vegetable patch, the orchard, our living space with tables, chairs, dry toilets and a shipping container/shed, and a wooden play-hut.

Immersive performances created: La Ferme d’Antan simulating a 19th century farm, with sheep, hand-tools and totems, and Place au Futur! experimenting with imagined and very real farming techniques of the future. Residents drew and constructed aquaponic and aeroponic growing systems, underground mushroom farms, a field of windmills and a wetland pond. Agricultural drones and remote-controlled tractors dotted the paths. Soundscapes diffused interviews collected on the varied agricultural heritage of the neighbours.

CREATIVE TEAM

Artistic direction: Sarah Harper

Construction and pedagogy: Pascal Laurent

Landscaping: Antoine Hibou-Cwancig and Toumi Omrane

Illustrations: Frede Dethier

Costume designer/maker: Claudia Verdejo

Sound creation: Erwan Quintin

Production and administration: Pascal Laurent

Costume assistant: Rita Raussou

Sound technician: Pierre Allias

Scenography construction assistant: Yan Ngo

FINANCIAL PARTNERS

Plaine Commune: Culture la Ville

SEM Plaine Commune

Ville d'Aubervilliers

Politique de la Ville

Place au Futur! juin 2021