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A delicate balance

2021 Competition entry

Lana Combrinck

Details:
Not Signed
Oil paint and collage on Cornflakes boxes
39.5 x 24 x 9 cm (x2)
R3 000

Description:
“A delicate balance” refers to two cornfields under extreme natural conditions namely drought and flood. These cornfields are painted on top of Corn Flakes boxes. On the box that represents drought are the words “Just add water” and on the box that represents flood are the words “Just add less water”. Words like “Just add milk” constantly appears on cereal packaging as a selling point, as a “quick fix” for consumers that don’t have the time to do anything more than to “just add milk” to their morning cereals. During the national lockdown we as consumers became more aware of the products that we buy at stores and the availability of those product. We became aware of the fact that we would need to live without certain products and without certain “quick fixes” that we grew accustomed to. 

The current extreme climate is making it increasingly more difficult for farmers to grow productive crops. And as it is not as simple as to ‘just add water’ or to ‘just add less water’ but requires a delicate balance of human control and natural occurences to enhance the productivity of corn fields we see a decrease in corn production. Increased temperatures affect rainfall and can cause unpredictable weather patterns. This makes it increasingly difficult for farmers to maintain the delicate balance that is needed to yield productive crops. This delicate balance needs to be maintained as to not tip the scales to an unproductive downward slope of food security. This delicate balance can’t be maintained through a ‘quick fix’ and what if this inbalance causes food scarcity? Would we be able to live without our ‘quick fix’ and beloved cereals?