Apilar

Silicone, pigment, chocolate
This project is a part of group exhibition with other students from various nationalities in Aalto University. Each student has developed one product inspired by Mexican culture. My primary idea is to integrate tradition into modern life. At the beginning of the project Mexican designer Sara Casillas Pereyra, who organizes the project, introduced us to Mexican culture especially their well-known cuisine. During the session, she shared a short documentary film about one small cacao farm in a rural area in Mexico and I ascertained that ancient Maya was among the first group of Mesoamericans who began to consume cacao. Nevertheless, Chocolate is considered exclusive gourmet dessert worldwide without much of its intriguing history.

As further background research went on, I found out that cacao was not a simple ingredient for food consumption among the Aztecs, but also the seeds were known to be a form of currency. Therefore, it was the symbol of the wealth and sacrifices to the god. My concept is to combine sacred Aztec architecture with historically rich Mexican chocolate to celebrate bountiful Mexican culture.

To do so, I create 4 different sizes of Aztec temples then make double-sided silicone molds out of them. Particular ancient Aztec temples that were built up on the previous building influenced this shape. Instead of demolish an antecedent building, the Aztec created intriguing several layers of buildings. Colorful silicone molds will be displayed as sculpture in different size, which can be stacked. In addition, they can be used as chocolate molds. Local Mexican chocolate producer collaborated the chocolate making part for a multi sensory exhibition in Mexico city September 2015.