FOOD BEYOND FOOD

what is food without its origin?what is food without its origin?


2024, Film installation

Realised during the MUSAE + S+T+ARTS Food as Medicine residency. 
Google Earth Timelapse, Drying of the Aral Sea, 1984-2022
© Google Earth


When considering the food we consume, do we truly care how its geographical origin dictates whether or not it ends up on our plate?  In reality, the place of production may be the exclusive factor influencing its presence in our diet.

In our current era of rapid change, where climate shifts are reshaping geography and technology is advancing in lab-grown food and the replication of microclimates, traditional notions of authenticity linked to a territory face profound challenges.
What is food without its place of origin?

In this context, the redefinition of food origin and identity has the potential to reshape global dynamics. In fact, food transcends mere sustenance; it becomes a geopolitical entity, intricately woven into political and social governance, shaping relationships at individual, communal, and institutional levels.

"Food Beyond Food" is a triptych of investigative films that shine a spotlight on the connections between specific territories and their iconic foods—particularly those with certified origin labels, which are deemed "authentic" only when derived from a specific geographic area. By investigating how these foods have shaped societal narratives over time and influenced geopolitical landscapes, these films aim to illuminate the intricate interplay between food, identity, and politics, challenging the significance of policies focused solely on geographical origin, both in the present and looking ahead to the future.




Film: Eleonora Ortolani
Music: Mael Henaff

Special thanks to: Riseria Ferron, Riseria Melotti, Ewan, Hiroko.

With the partecipation of: 
Monica Berni
Andrea Battistoni
Teodoro Rava
Lluis Tudela


©ELEONORA ORTOLANI ALL RIGHTS RESERVED©ELEONORA ORTOLANI ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
BESbswy