During her residency at the Verbier 3-D Foundation, Swiss artist Andrea Hasler developed Perishable Goods, a poignant exploration of Verbier’s seasonal population shifts and how these changes reflect broader global issues such as resource distribution, privilege, and consumption.

Like many mountain resort towns, Verbier experiences a stark contrast between the bustling winter months, filled with luxury ski tourists and seasonal workers, and the quieter summer season. Hasler uses this seasonal fluctuation as the foundation of her work, drawing a parallel between the transient presence of tourists in the region and the fleeting nature of aid distribution in disaster zones, where resources and support often appear temporarily and are driven by economic and political agendas.

Hasler's installation incorporates perishable materials that decay over time, symbolizing not only the impermanence of human presence but also the commodification of life and experience in luxury resort towns. The constant ebb and flow of Verbier’s population—from bustling ski tourists to off-season calm—mirrors the way in which aid and resources are allocated with little regard for sustainability or long-term impact.

The focus on perishability underscores the transient nature of luxury economies, and how the "flesh" of human activity, whether through tourism or labor, is discarded once the season ends. The work highlights the fragile relationship between people and the environment, reminding us that, like perishable goods, human contributions and resources are often viewed as disposable once the cycle of demand has passed.

Perishable Goods offers a critical commentary on consumerism, privilege, and the disposability of both people and resources in contemporary society. It invites viewers to reflect on the cyclical, ephemeral nature of human interaction with the environment and challenges us to reconsider our role in perpetuating such systems.