Cristina Burns Visual Artist and Social Advocate

DULCE ENGAÑO AT MUSEO DE CEUTA

I am pleased to share that my solo exhibition, Dulce Engaño, after its successful debut at the Centro Cultural Alfonso X El Sabio in El Puerto de Santa María, will now be presented at the Museo del Revellín in Ceuta. Curated by Andrea García Casal and sponsored by the Ciudad Autónoma de Ceuta, Dulce Engaño explores the seductive yet deceptive world of sugar and artificial food colorants. Artificial colors—derived from petroleum, minerals, and insects—adorn the foods we consume daily, transforming nutritionally empty products into visually irresistible temptations. Beneath their vibrant hues lies an unsettling reality that I aim to unveil through my work.

Through twenty artworks printed on canvas, organized into five series:

Delusional Parasitosis

Sugar and Proteins

Future Generations

Melted, A New Planet

I examine the seductive power of these colors and their ability to manipulate our senses. By juxtaposing candies, insects, toys, and unexpected objects, I challenge viewers to reflect on the boundaries between what is edible and inedible, healthy and unhealthy, natural and artificial.

Colorants are often used to enhance the appearance of foods, particularly those high in sugar, which are nutritionally unnecessary. The World Health Organization advises that free sugars should account for no more than 10% of daily caloric intake to maintain health. Yet, the vibrant and unnatural colors found in these products can unconsciously heighten our desire to consume them. Without these vivid hues, candies and other sweets might appear less appealing in their natural, pale state, but the vibrant colors serve as a deceptive tool to make them more tempting.

For instance, consider the unnatural appeal of blue-colored ice cream—a hue rarely found in natural foods. Similarly, it feels odd to try a cake adorned with printed designs, like those that decorate some children's desserts. These decorations, though visually engaging, emphasize the disconnect between the natural appearance of food and the enhanced, artificial appeal created by colorants.

These bright, engaging colors, derived from sources such as insects (cochineal, E120), petroleum (brilliant blue FCF, E133, or azorubine, E122), and minerals (titanium dioxide, E171), manipulate our perceptions. Despite their unsettling origins, often associated with the unappetizing or inedible, these colorants are present in a wide range of foods.

Sugar is a recurring theme throughout the exhibition, serving as a focal point to explore issues related to poor nutrition and challenge perceptions of what is healthy or unhealthy, delicious or repulsive, edible or inedible. I intentionally blur the line between these dichotomies, provoking reflection on our assumptions.The works in the exhibition feature an array of sweets—candies, cakes, and pastries—juxtaposed with unsettling elements like insects. These are not the only subjects; the images also include other animals such as amphibians and reptiles, along with offal, toys, porcelain figurines, metal objects, and rocks. Notably, elements that appear to be food or living beings are often artificial, crafted from plastic.

My work in "Sweet Deception" is rooted in figurative art, with the exception of the "A New Planet" series and some transitional pieces. This final series, focused on abstract representations of molecules, uses abstract language to depict the microscopic, creating a stark contrast between the micro (molecules) and the macro (planets). I imaginesa peculiar, science fiction-inspired planetary system where sugar and its negative consequences are the central themes. The exhibition concludes with "Diabetes Mellitus" from the "A New Planet" series, a piece that embodies the disease and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining a healthy diet. This work highlights the ever-present threat of illness associated with unhealthy eating habits, regardless of how tempting the food might be.

Through the lens of vibrant surrealism, Dulce Engaño exposes the visual and chemical deceptions behind the foods we consume, inviting us to rethink our habits and consider the hidden costs of indulgence in the contemporary world.

MUSEO DE CEUTA Photo by Marek , CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23117373

Exhibition Details:

📍 Museo del Revellín, Ceuta
🗓 Dates: December 20, 2024 – March 16, 2025
🎉 Inauguration: December 20, 2024, at 19:00

I am honored to see Dulce Engaño travel to such a significant cultural space and invite you to experience this exploration of consumption, beauty, and deception.