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Kalle Hamm • Juha Holopainen • Michiko
Isogai
Sade Kahra • Dzamil Kamanger • Goran Mrdja
Spice Trade is a part of a series of art projects produced
by visual artists Kalle Hamm and Dzamil Kamanger. The first, Pizzeria
Babylon, inspected living in Finland from the viewpoint of an immigrant.
The second, Con-Fusion Food, served food made mixing Western and Eastern
recipes. Spice Trade peeks into Europe and its history with a non-European
perspective.
Some 13 000 years ago all human communities consisted of hunter-gatherers,
which was the case in most of Africa and Australia until the end of
16th century AD. Simultaneously, hierarchic governmental system, armies,
the skill of writing, and technical innovations were developing in Europe.
The Europeans' global supremacy was apparent in conquests on all continents.
What if history would have taken a different turn? What if other continents
would have surpassed Europe?
Spice Trade is an artistic simulation made with a twinkle in the eye,
with an emphasis on placing yourself in someone else's shoes and questioning
European values systems as universal, rather than historic accuracy.
The game character is a poor man who has lost his parents, inherited
some land and a house. He becomes a trader of spices and herbs in Baghdad
at a time when Europeans are starting their “great voyages of exploration”.
The game character has to ensure that the Europeans do not take over
his country and his culture, while he has to expand the sphere of influence
of his own culture.
Spice Trade concept has been designed by Kalle Hamm and Dzamil Kamanger.
Coding by Juha Holopainen, graphics by Sade Kahra and sound by Michiko
Isogai and Goran Mrdja, all living and working in Helsinki. Also installations
of other related products at the MUU Gallery. Spice Trade -game is available
at the gallery for 50€, or you can load it in your computer for
free in www.spicetrade.org
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