Luz y sombra en la hoja de coca. De la sacralidad de la inalmama al narcoarte

This article analyzes the duality of the coca leaf to explore its ancestral cultural significance and its stigmatization in the contemporary context. While for Andean civilizations it has been a sacred plant with medicinal and ritual uses, at the global level it is condemned for its association with drug trafficking, leading to its demonization and ongoing controversy, often resulting in the eradication of coca fields. Through art and museum representations, it becomes evident how narcoculture has gained greater visibility than artistic expressions that defend the traditional value of the coca leaf. This dichotomy not only reflects a struggle over the ancestral meaning of the plant but also the influence of dominant ideological discourses that shape global perceptions of coca and its impact on contemporary society.