Domestic Parasites

- Project by Nasim Razavian

- 2020, covid-19 Pandemic

On 10-08-2020, 20 jars were delivered by a bike messenger to 20 people in Rotterdam. This was during the covid-19 pandemic when Rotterdam was under quarantine. Each jar contained a unique edible matter put in them a week before delivery. These edible matters were selected to host certain modes of life. During this first week, magnificent landscapes of molds have appeared in these jars documented through photography. Each jar was accompanied with an ID card showing the host and a zine consisting of a selection of photos from these landscapes and a text and a manual as follows:

“This tiny jar is the habitat of an emerging organism and it exhibits its process of formation. Growing on dead organic matter, molds are normally associated with the notions of death, decay, and degradation, but this specific mold will continue its life next to you as long as you wish, and it may even develop a love relationship with you.

Molds are multicellular organisms which belong to the fungus family. As their nutrition is not through photosynthesis, they need carbon-containing hosts to grow on.

Each jar contains a different host: plum, apricot, tomato, carrot, yogurt, aubergine, avocado, cucumber, bread, yogurt, hummus, pesto, zucchini, lemon, cheese, cake, or mango.

Each jar contains different types of molds. Your mold may be an Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Mucor, Eurotium, Penicillium or another type of mold. You can distinguish it according to its shape and color.

Molds contain hypha, the branching filaments that make up the mycelium of a fungus. They can reproduce through spores which can be sexual or asexual.

Molds need oxygen to grow and they prefer dark moist environments. If you decide to keep the organism, please keep the jar upside dawn (Lid facing downwards) and keep it in a dark space. You can open the jar by twisting the glass part from time to time especially when the jar has become foggy from the molds’ breathing. This way the mold can take a fresh breath while you take a closer look at it. Remember to close the jar afterwards.” (Excerpt from the zine)

The bike messenger told the receivers that they can feel free to reject the gift and many did.

This project was initially developed to be part of the Bike Messenger Project initiated by WORKNOT! for the exhibition of Fictioning Comfort.

“For the six weeks zines, cushions, snails, toilet paper, ceramic tiles, letters, fabrics, moldy food and many more 'gifts of care' were exchanged through a cycle of artists and friends by a bike messenger twice a week. Seen both as a prelude and a parallel to the exhibition, some pieces overlapped, but many did not. Partially in response to covid-19, the bike messenger round enacted, among many things, a politics of kinship, friendship, care, intimacy and gifting exchange.” (Excerpt from the exhibition catalogue)