The potato is a fundamental nutrition product in numerous zones of the planet, especially in Latin America. There is an extensive ancestral and symbolic culture around it, whose attraction we have always felt.
Oda a la Papa was configured as a parade along the length of three avenues in the Miraflores district of Lima, Peru.
The parade had seven processions:
-The Great Potato – an inflatable balloon in the shape of a giant potato
-The “Payment to the Earth” procession – a series of moving tables / altars with gifts inspired by the traditional Andean offerings to the potato
-The Huaco ritual procession – a large scale reproduction of one of the ritual pieces in the Archeological Museum of Lima
-The Close Relatives procession – fifty gigantographs of the best known varieties of Andean potatos, roots and tubers (with their original names written in quechua), as well as photographs of “guest” potatos from India, Africa, Europe and other places.
-The Transgenic Potato procession – formed by two white limousines “tuned up” with neon light and transporting a green pyramid with a potato encrusted in its apex (the symbol that appears on the dollar)
-The Sponsors procession – cars from the municipal cleaning service with advertisements and music of the Miraflores band in the background.
Ritual procession:
Making of:
ODA A LA PAPA “Noche en Blanco”, Miraflores, Lima May 16-17, 2008 ....................................................................................... Realization: FoodCultura/Miralda /Marta Tatjer/Montse Guillen ....................................................................................... Collaborators: Municipalidad de Miraflores, Bomberos del Perú CBVP, Ejercito del Perú, Cruz Roja, Centro Internacional de la Papa, Bacu, Wilfredo Abramonte, Los Merida, Zoila Espinoza, Activa, Teatro del Milenio and the street art Eliot Urcuhuaranga ....................................................................................... Production: Deliveri, Plaza Vea, Tarjeta Vea, Centro Cultural de España, Fundación Wiese ....................................................................................... Photos: Archivo FoodCultura ........................................................................................