Signal (Murcia), 2010

The region of Murcia is rich in producing fruits. Many supermarkets across Europe offer fruit grown in Murcia and its surroundings. The region accounts for about 13% of the volume of fruit and vegetables distributed in Europe. Signal (Murcia) consists of a series of stickers designed by Metahaven, which are applied to Murcia-grown fruit during Manifesta 8. These labels comprehensively address the current geopolitical situation in the territories where the fruit was grown, adding elements of surprise and speculation. The labelled fruits are distributed internationally along existing channels, as well as shown in a food-market installation at Manifesta. Fruit labels have become fetish objects for collectors, although much of the romanticism has given way to bar codes and other technocratic devices.

Metahaven

Vinca Kruk
1980, Leiden, The Netherlands. Lives and works in Amsterdam.

Daniel van der Velden
1971, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Lives and works in Amsterdam.

Metahaven is a design studio engaged in the field of visual identity. From research projects, such as the Sealand Identity Project (2004), Museum of Conflict (2006), and Quaero (2007), the group has moved into installations and critical design projects such as Affiche Frontière (CAPC Musée d'Art Contemporain de Bordeaux, 2008) and Stadtstaat (Künstlerhaus Stuttgart and Casco Utrecht). Its recent manifesto, Uncorporate Identity (Lars Müller Publishers, 2010), matches design with inquiries on globalisation and network society. Metahaven's work has been included in group exhibitions including Forms of Inquiry (Architectural Association, London, 2007, cat.) and On Purpose, Design Concepts (Arnolfini, Bristol, 2008). The group's members lecture regularly, and teach at Yale University, New Haven, the Design Academy, Eindhoven, and the Sandberg Institute, Amsterdam.