Edgar Calel, a Guatemalan artist born in 1987, is the subject of an exhibition at Kunsthalle Bern. His work draws on the rituals and traditions of his native Guatemala, focusing on the working conditions and environmental impact of export-oriented agricultural industries, particularly palm oil and coffee plantations that dominate the country's economy.
This exhibition matters because it brings critical attention to the intersection of art, labor, and environmental justice in Central America. By highlighting the human and ecological costs of commodity agriculture, Calel's practice challenges viewers to reconsider the global supply chains behind everyday products, positioning contemporary art as a platform for social and political commentary.