Dulce/Amargo

Historically, the massive exploitation of cocoa greatly disrupted the demographic and social structure of the original peoples. Today, 95% of cocoa production comes from small producers in countries in the global south, especially in Africa, which have been hit hard by the high cost of fertilisers. Farmers have abandoned their farms due to lack of profitability and migrated to cities or Europe. And, in the face of scarce supply, speculators have made their fortune, especially the multinational food companies, the big cocoa buyers, who have taken advantage of rising prices to speculate on the fruit instead of turning it into chocolate. This project therefore focuses on the creation of pieces made from cocoa shells, representing the main cocoa-growing countries. The aim is to explore and make visible the complex relationships of interdependence that exist throughout the process of cocoa transformation. Dulce/amargo invites a critical dialogue on the power dynamics that often characterise the relationships of the trinomial cultivation, processing and sale, with practices of exploitation, speculation and impoverishment, proposing a twist in the narrative that emphasises the importance of mutual care and shared responsibility. By representing the producing countries, the pieces not only celebrate the cultural and agricultural richness of cocoa, but also address issues of social justice.