Co-Evolution of Sheep and Human across 11,000 years
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For centuries, we have relied on sheep’s wool for clothing and blankets, and they relied on us for shearing. Now, sheep can’t molt without human help, though we’re using little of their wool. Because consumers today favor softer and less expensive synthetic fibers, an enormous output of raw wool — estimated by researchers at more than 317,000 tons worldwide — goes to waste each year.
This paradox of mutual reliance is at the center of the exhibition, “Formafantasma — Oltre Terra,” at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, from Feb. 15 through July 13. The show, by the design studio Formafantasma, is billed as examining the “co-evolution” of sheep and humans across some 11,000 years and contains thoughts about how we might improve the relationship.
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@pique said in Co-Evolution of Sheep and Human across 11,000 years:
I dont understand--wool is the perfect fiber, useful for so many things. How can there be a lack of demand?
Nonstop sales pitches for new techno-plastic-miracle fibers that are “new and improved” every season. Especially in recreational / outdoor / sports gear.
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“Over hundreds and hundreds of years, tame sheep have developed through human design,” she added, “so that it would become a wool-producing machine with ears and eyes, instead of an animal.”
That sounds like something peta would say. They are still animals, the use of the word 'instead' is not correct.
From the 13th to the 20th centuries, wool was a very important industry.
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Wool is super cozy and comfortable over a wide range of temperatures. For decades the preferred material for bicycle jerseys. I’d have more wool around if we didn’t have clothes moths lurking.
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@Mary-Anna said in Co-Evolution of Sheep and Human across 11,000 years:
Does the article say why we are still raising so many of them if we don't need the wool? For meat, milk, and cheese?
Piano hammers and felts!
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Sorry, that page didn’t reproduce well. Thought I had deleted it, hoping to try again later.
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https://i.postimg.cc/KYLdcGbv/IMG-1943.jpg
Hopefully improved resolution
