Pan y Revuelta

Abstract

The Bread and Uprising series consists of a compilation of cutouts that Valeria Mata has been creating with archival images from social demonstrations where bread is present as a protest companion. Bread has mobilized thousands of people across historical and contemporary borders. It is a food item that represents politics and class like few others. Its cost and availability have been key factors in many social upheavals. On the other hand, in addition to cushioning and inciting conflicts, bread also builds common spaces. Valeria Mata's research project aims to explore the materiality and symbolism of bread, as well as the socio-political conditions in which it exists.