NAMo
4. The Dust Under the Bed
Exploring the coca paste economy in Colombia
The Dust Under the Bed is a research and design project examining coca paste production in remote Colombian regions. We investigated how the coca plant—cultivated, processed, and sold as paste—functions as a currency in areas disconnected from formal economies.
Through mapping and video documentation, we traced how dependence on coca created a fragile monoculture. Following the 2023 coca crisis, plummeting prices left farmers unable to trade for food, forcing many to abandon their paste—now referred to as "dust under the bed."
The project also highlights the stigma surrounding Erythroxylum coca. Despite its cultural and medicinal significance, our attempts to access the plant for academic study were rejected by multiple institutions, revealing deep-rooted misconceptions and legal obstacles.
- Authors: Jasmine Fernandez - Aglaé Jarry Wilson -Daan Walder - Natali Aguirre Montaña