RICE investigates both the material qualities of this cereal, as well as its cultural significance as a fundamental dietary staple across various societies. Drawing from memories of childhood in Spain and early 20’s in Japan, through this series of works the artist reflects on the emotional connection between food and culture. 

From her mother and grandmother’s arroz con pollo to her bestfriends oyakodon and her university’s cantine’s Japanese style breakfast menu, rice became a point of connection with the people and places most important to her. And like her, this is also the case for thousands of people around the planet coming from rice based cultures. Therefore, the works in this project are a start for the artist's exploration of rice, the emotional ties it represents and the impact of globalization and migration on those. 

Already fascinated with the nuances of color from the semi-translucent grains, following her move to Brussels, the wide range of rice varieties and cooking styles she was exposed to in such a multicultural city was added to this fascination. Hence, in the series RICE she focuses on representing through a series of “portraits” various types of rice grain species and varieties. This project signified the beginning of an ongoing path of exploration of the use of natural materials, such as rice grains, wood, and soap, to foster a more sustainable artistic practice.