This site of the pharmacy is located in the Raval and it is dedicated to Artemisia annua, a medicinal plant with powerful immunological properties. Artemisia was patented by Novartis to produce an artemisinin-based antimalarial vaccine. Later, the plant was banned in several countries such as Gambia, where malaria rates are high, in order to promote the sale of the vaccine. Recent studies promote the use of the plant in the treatment of covid 19 and cancer. Artemisia annua was chosen for the Raval, a historic neighborhood of migrants, sex workers and people in vulnerable situations. The plants were planted clandestinely at various points in the neighborhood, occupying municipal green areas and camouflaging the mugwort among other plants already present. This site of the pharmacy is maintained indirectly by the municipality’s environment department.
In the spring of 2021, the site expanded at the artistic community La Escocesa.
who sows reaps the harvest
During the spring of 2021, additional Artemisia annua plants were planted at La Escocesa, expanding the care network involving the artistic community. Different members of the community temporally adopted the plants and cared for them during the summer until the flowering time. At that point, the plants were grouped together at La Escocesa to celebrate a ritual of harvesting and transformation: Quien siembra cosecha (Who sows reaps the harvest).
During the ritual we collectively harvested the Artemisia annua and experimented with the alchemical process of the creation of the mother tincture, sharing knowledge, experience and affection about the plant.
Quien siembra cosecha has been presented at La Escocesa and Faculty of Fine Arts Madrid.
