Polish artist Ewelina Bialoszewska has developed an innovative photo book called "Growing Album" that combines photography with agriculture by embedding actual seeds directly into the pages. The unique project allows viewers to plant the entire book in soil after reading it, transforming the album into a living garden that grows the same plants featured in the photographs.
Bialoszewska creates the plantable pages using handmade paper produced from old maps of her hometown and newspaper clippings that her grandmother saved over many years. During the papermaking process, she carefully adds seeds to the pulp mixture, ensuring they correspond to the plants shown in each photograph. For example, pages featuring images with tomatoes in the background contain actual tomato seeds mixed within the paper fibers, secured so they won't fall off or be easily scraped away.
The artist uses transfer printing techniques to create images on the seed-embedded paper, which produces a deliberately faded appearance rather than sharp, clear photographs. This fading effect intentionally represents how memories become less distinct over time, adding symbolic depth to the project. The biodegradable paper naturally breaks down in soil while providing nutrients for the sprouting seeds, with the growing process taking several weeks to months depending on the plant species and growing conditions.
Creating the Growing Album requires precise timing and specialized techniques to preserve seed integrity throughout the manufacturing process. The seeds must remain dormant during papermaking and storage while retaining their ability to germinate when eventually planted. Bialoszewska has developed methods to protect the seeds throughout production, incorporating varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers that typically thrive in Polish gardens.
Each page of the album tells a story through the combination of photography and embedded seeds. The photographs document specific locations, gardens, and plant life from Poland, while the seeds enable users to recreate elements of these environments anywhere in the world. Though the album works in various climates, success rates depend on local weather and soil conditions, with some plants adapting better to new environments than others. Users may need to adjust watering, sunlight, and soil conditions for optimal growth.
The Growing Album addresses deeper themes of migration and cultural identity. Bialoszewska created the project with the understanding that many immigrants feel disconnected from their cultural roots after moving to new countries. The album serves as a means for people who have moved away from their birthplaces to grow plants from their homeland, establishing physical connections to their origins. Rather than simply viewing photographs of home and loved ones, users can cultivate living connections to their places of origin, creating a tangible bridge between their past and present through gardening.
