We propose a roundtable discussion with 6 participants exploring The Sweetest Taboo as a material substance, cultural metaphor and a hyperobject that flows through bodies, behaviors, economies, and ecosystems. We are interested in opening the floor to talk about molecular bonds, colonial histories, metabolic pathways, supply chains, personal cravings and global consequences.
Rimon Alyagon Darr will discuss sugar’s dual nature as an intimate and historical material, highlighting its use in edible sculptures and military rations, sparking dialogue on comfort, control, and shared consumption.
Dejan Markovic will explore the cultural and symbolic connections between sex, food, and sweets, touching on societal taboos around masculinity, queerness, and food’s role in sexual experiences, while inviting participants to engage in an interactive exercise.
Markela Koniordou will examine sweetness, language, and power, challenging how phrases like "sugarcoat” mask manipulation, and will address food racism and neocolonialism, highlighting global health inequalities.
Carolina Páez Vélez will explore sugar addiction and stress-induced appetite changes, critiquing modern practices that fuel addiction and offering a hands-on experience making fermented foods to boost gut health.
Zahra Mirza will reflect on Collapsology through Maillard in a sculpture, alluding to the taboo of confronting irreversible breakdowns in systems, and introduce Sugarcoat Dis, an app/game aiming to sugarcoat harsh words.
Ethan Vincent will focus on sensory pleasure and societal norms in shaping taboos, through The Sweetest Confession, a collaborative video exploring indulgence, sugar, and taboo, prompting personal reflections on desserts and societal norms.
Finally, Márton Emil Tóth will present Sugar Shape Shifting, discussing sugar’s historical ties to slavery, modern health impacts, and its potential as a sustainable material, encouraging a rethinking of sugar as both a problem and part of the solution.
Through these diverse perspectives, we will examine sweet contradictions, exploring its role in pleasure, destruction, addiction, exploitation, and innovation.
Markela Koniordou is a Greek performance and video artist whose work merges art, science, and social engagement. With an academic background in biological sciences and public health from University College London, and over 15 years of experience in health research, project management, and communications, she is currently pursuing an MA in Art & Science at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. Her interdisciplinary approach allows her to explore themes of sustainability, health, and the environment by blending scientific inquiry with artistic expression.
Markela’s creative practice spans video, audio, and performance, crafting sensory experiences that prompt critical reflection on the interplay between technology, nature, and human society. Recent works include the performance "Graziata," developed during a residency at Seestadt Studios in Vienna, as well as video pieces like "Circa diem" and "Walk in the Mall," which investigate how media shapes contemporary human experience. In addition, Markela has contributed to documentary filmmaking, serving as associate producer and featured character in the award-winning short film MICROBIOME, and working on the feature documentary E-LIFE, which exposes the environmental impacts of electronic waste disposal.
Through her multidisciplinary practice, Markela Koniordou inspires dialogue and action on global issues, urging audiences to reconsider the interconnectedness of human health, the environment, and the systems that shape our world.
Rimon Alyagon Darr is a glass artist and cognitive scientist. In order to create multi-sensory works she often works with candy as a secondary material, using traditional glass blowing and sculpting methods on molten candy.
Dejan Markovic (aka. Dejan Klement) (b. 1989, Belgrade) was educated at the Marina Abramović Institute and the Faculty of Contemporary Arts in Belgrade, where he graduated from the Painting Department. He primarily works in the fields of poetry, performance art, pornography, and painting. Since 2008, he has actively exhibited his work in solo and group exhibitions, as well as at art festivals in Serbia and abroad.
Carolina Páez Vélez studied chemistry and microbiology and holds a Master’s degree in Biological Sciences. Her scientific background fostered a deep passion for microbial life and plants, with a particular interest in exploring their symbiotic relationships. Moving between science and art, her practice investigates living systems and their aesthetic, ecological, and cultural dimensions. She has exhibited and curated in projects such as Dar a Luz (2024) and Refractive Perspectives | 310^8 m/s* (2024), and presented her work A Golden Agony (2025). Alongside her artistic practice, she actively participates in excursions, lectures, and collaborative research that connect biology, technology, and cultural heritage.
Zahra Mirza is a lifelong learner from Pakistan, now living in Austria. She has an educational background in Sculpture and her professional experience extends into public service content and art direction for print and television media. She is also former director of RetroArts; artists platform in Pakistan. She has conducted design seminar and fiber arts studio courses at Beaconhouse National University, Lahore and sculpture workshops for Community College, Kunsthalle Wien and Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna. Currently, she is a student at the department of Cross Disciplinary Strategies and works as a tutor at the department of Media Theory at University of Applied Arts, Vienna.
Tóth Márton Emil (b. 1988) is a visual artist. He graduated from the Hungarian University of Fine Arts with an MA in 2012 as a sculptor. He is currently studying at the Doctoral School of the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME). He lives in Budapest and has been working at AQB (Art Quarter Budapest) since 2012. He seeks to expand his object-based creative practice by exploring the possibilities of the theme of entropy. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tothmartonemil/
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