Audrey Rodriguez

“Neutral Levitation IV nods to the interconnected journey of coffee—from its agricultural roots to its commodification—while highlighting the labor and natural resources behind this global industry. I explore the tension between tradition and modernity, personal ritual, and international economics through monochromatic tones and carefully chosen objects. By incorporating symbols like soil, sugar, and a floating miniature shovel, I bridge the intimate act of drinking coffee with its production's broader socio-economic and environmental challenges. The floating shovel simultaneously grounds and elevates the labor, cultivation, and consumption narrative. The text "La Taza Amarga" underscores the bittersweet reality of coffee cultivation, where the enjoyment of this daily ritual is inextricably linked to the hardships tied to its production.” - Audrey Rodriguez.