Gregor Sailer's 'Cockaigne' Explores Global Food Infrastructure in Book and Exhibition

Tyrolean photographer Gregor Sailer (b. 1980) unveils 'Cockaigne,' a new exhibition and book at Vienna's Natural History Museum, which explores global agricultural advancements and food production systems. Employing an analogue view camera for large-format photography, Sailer documents a range of subjects, from the ancient Inraren Food Forest in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains to innovative vertical farms in Copenhagen, Denmark, that yield 1,000 tons of pesticide-free vegetables annually. The series also features high-security data centers in Sweden and Iceland, reflecting corporate dominance over consumption, alongside community-driven projects like the Naurvik hydroponic system in Gjoa Haven, Nunavut, Canada, situated 250km north of the Arctic Circle. Previous works by Sailer, including 'The Polar Silk Road' (2017-2022) and 'The Potemkin Village' (2015–2017), similarly investigate human-modified landscapes. An essay by Lisa Ortner-Kreil discusses the transition to sterile, lab-like food production environments. Published by Kehrer Verlag, the images combine documentary and fine art, addressing the implications of climate change and population growth. The exhibition spans locations in the USA, Austria, France, Germany, and includes space research sites like the Luna Analog Facility in Cologne, Germany. Released on 26 December 2025, the project highlights both industrial-scale operations and grassroots solutions, featuring cinematic, hyperreal visuals often absent of people.