Abstract
This paper discusses the use of edible plants in the practice of Senegalese-Italian artist Binta Diaw. Through the analysis of recent installations like DÏÀ S P O R A (2022), Chorus of Soil (2019‒21) and Chorus of Zong (2021), and Nero Sangue (2020), the study shows how Diaw incorporates edible materials with ties to African Diasporas. Millet and rice―traditional crops in the cuisine and spiritual practices of West Africa―become signifiers of resilience and care in Diaw’s visual vocabulary. Tomatoes and melons―often grown by African migrants under exploitative labor conditions in Southern Italian regions―are associated with the challenging life experiences of Black workers in Europe. In her immersive and multi-sensorial artworks, Diaw links the histories of the Middle Passage with current migration waves, unveiling the inequity of present food systems while honoring the ingenuity and strength of her community.
Presenters
Silvia BottinelliSenior Lecturer and Interim Chair, Visual and Material Studies Department, SMFA at Tufts University, Massachusetts, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2022 Special Focus—Imagining the Edible: Food, Creativity, and the Arts
KEYWORDS
African Diasporas, Agricultural Labor, Migration, Food Systems, Contemporary Art, Race
