Presented Work(s): Climate Snake - Guardians Lick. Chomp. Gulp. Swallow. Burp. The desire to eat and satiate hunger drives us from the moment we are born. Be it an infant latching onto its mother’s breast or maggots devouring a corpse, all living beings feed and are fed upon. The human body is fueled by food. In the 1860s, experiments revealed that the digestion of food releases energy, which was quantified in calories. The calorie has a complicated history, having evolved from a thermodynamic concept to a standardised measure that controls international policies on agriculture and food production, as well as healthcare and poverty indices across the globe. Food can be a tool to empower and control as well as to disenfranchise and discriminate. Food deprivation, when forced, is an act of oppression and, when voluntary, a mark of devotion or a tool for rebellion. And today, the calorie reigns supreme in fitness and diet culture. Malnutrition afflicts India and much of the world, even as food is grown and produced in abundance. Grocery stores overflow with ultra-processed products, while supplementary powders, pills, and potions offer the promise of nourishing our bodies. Nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics are now touted as solutions to optimise an individual’s diet to their particular genetic profile. However, the relationship between food and health is not merely physical. Eating disorders, ranging from anorexia to binge eating, highlight the mental and emotional complexities of our connection with food. We stand at the precipice of a divide—between food and hunger, heirloom and GMO, disease and diet, McDonalds and MTR! Are we ready to imagine what a sustainable, equitable, and flavourful food future looks like? For CALORIE, we will critically explore food and nutrition, cooking and consumption in global food cultures and systems across history. |
Location: Science Gallery Bengaluru 10 - 11, Bellary Road Sanjaynagar Bengaluru, 560024 India |
