Asunción Molinos Gordo: Accumulation by Dispossession

Delfina Foundation launches its fourth season of The Politics of Food with a solo exhibition by Asunción Molinos Gordo, curated by Dani Burrows.

Titled Accumulation by Dispossession, the exhibition’s name is a reference to the work of the eminent Marxist Professor David Harvey. In his 2003 book, The New Imperialism, Harvey introduces the concept “accumulation by dispossession” to describe the increasing feature of global capitalism to concentrate wealth and power in the hands of the few through the process of dispossession. During her 2014 residency at Delfina Foundation, Molinos related this concept to her ongoing research into the food system, the outcome of which is this exhibition, her first solo presentation in the UK.

Accumulation by Dispossession maps a route through different aspects of the global food system, addressing issues of privatisation, financialisation, the management and manipulation of crisis, as well as redistribution. Using a variety of media, including drawings, videos, sculptures, photographs and textiles, the works are a combination of hand-made, machine assembled and computerised, reflecting the different inputs and influences within the food system itself.

The exhibition is supported by Acción Cultural Española, Arts Council England, and Travesia Cuatro gallery.

The Politics of Food: Adapting
Asunción Molinos Gordo’s exhibition forms part of Delfina Foundation’s ongoing thematic programme The Politics of Food, running from April 1–June 23, 2019. Acknowledging that the food system is broken and seismic systemic change is an inevitability, The Politics of Food: Adapting investigates ideas responding to the changing environment of food production.

The programme includes five research-based residencies at Delfina Foundation, with Marta Fernández Calvo, Luigi Coppola, Vivien Sansour, Josefin Vargö, and Nick Laessing exploring how cultural legacies infuse food production both in the field and the kitchen. Their specific areas of research range from translating recipes, to heirloom seed saving, and DIY urban hydroponic cultivation. 

In addition to the exhibition and residencies, the season comprises a number of public events, including talks, workshops, performances and meals. Details of these can be found here and further events will be published shortly.