exhibition

Foam 3h:
Ana Núñez Rodríguez Cooking Potato Stories

What can a potato tell us about ourselves? The potato is cultivated almost everywhere, and globally cherished as an important part of local food cultures. Ana Núñez Rodríguez set out on a quest to unearth local ‘potato stories’ across the world, including her own childhood memories and her migratory trajectory between Spain, the Netherlands and Colombia.

About the exhibition

By collecting stories small and large, personal and historical, factual and fictional, Núñez Rodríguez investigates how the potato packs a universe of symbolic information on identity, domination and social differentiation. The many stories told in this exhibition present the humble potato as the product and cause of violence, famine and migration across the world. Yet they also talk about survival, sharing, belonging and family. The continuous transformation and adaptation of the potato become a metaphor for human resilience, and for how our identities are rooted in the stories we tell each other.

Upside Down, 2020 © Ana Núñez Rodríguez.
Who conquered who?, 2020 © Ana Núñez Rodríguez.
Who conquered who?, 2020
The red bags are used for the seeds, 2021 © Ana Núñez Rodríguez.
The red bags are used for the seeds, 2021
Underground Beauty, 2021 © Ana Núñez Rodríguez
Underground Beauty, 2021
For years and years, 2020 © Ana Núñez Rodríguez.
For years and years, 2020

Take the Potatonality Test

Ever thought of what a potato can tell you about yourself? In this game, there are four different potato characters. You can find which one relates to you by responding to a specific set of questions. For each question, choose one of the two answers that speak to you the most. In the process, you will learn more about the potato’s rich social history and understand how it relates to your daily life and interests.

start now
Potatonality test © Foam

Foam Talks Podcast:

Earth Day with

Ana Núñez Rodríguez

& Isadora Romero

On the occassion of Earth Day, Foam curator Amelie Schüle speaks with artists Ana Núñez Rodríguez and Isadora Romero, whose work both trace personal and global stories around one specific vegetable: the potato.

listen now
The red bags are used for the seeds, 2021 © Ana Núñez Rodríguez.

About Ana Núñez Rodríguez

Ana Núñez Rodríguez is based between Europe and Latin America. She studied Documentary Photography and Contemporary Creation at IDEP Barcelona, holds a postgraduate degree in Photography from the National University of Colombia and holds a Master degree in Photography and Society from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KABK) in The Hague. She was part of Lighthouse 2020-21, a program for upcoming talents at Fotodok, Utrecht.

This exhibition is made possible by the Van Bijlevelt Foundation, the Leeuwensteinstichting and Kleurgamma Fine-Art Photolab.

Acción Cultural Española (AC/E) supports the exhibition through the Programme for the Internationalisation of Spanish Culture (PICE).

Foam is supported by the VriendenLoterij, Foam Members, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, the VandenEnde Foundation and the Gemeente Amsterdam.

The real discovery, 2020 © Ana Núñez Rodríguez

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Foam 3h:
Ana Núñez Rodríguez Cooking Potato Stories