Synthetic eating

A reflection on art, food, and technologies surrounding marzia migliora’s work "Lo spettro di Malthus"

Abstract

Marzia Migliora’s artwork The Spectre of Malthus, exhibited in 2020 at Museum MAGA in Gallarate as part of the eponymous exhibition, delves into themes the Italian artist has explored for years: peasant labor, agricultural history, the transformation of food from sustenance to commodity in today’s virtualized economy, exploitation of natural resources, and the historical role of women in these contexts. Motivated by personal and familial experiences, Migliora has pursued these investigations over the years through installations that use humble, natural materials. Given this background, it might seem surprising that The Spectre of Malthus is realized through virtual reality (VR), a sophisticated technology creating a 360° digital environment that immerses users in an alternative space. This raises questions: Why employ virtual reality to evoke awareness of nature and its cycles? Why mediate the relationship between humans and nature through a digital environment, rather than opting for more un-mediated, and less artificial means? Building on Migliora’s work, the article addresses this issue by examining case studies of artists since the 1980s who have similarly used technology to explore such topics.