Reimagining Cultural Memory Through Bioart: A Multisensory Installation Based on Ecuadorian Horchata Waste

This study explores the potential of bioart to connect cultural memory, sensory experience, and environmental awareness through a multisensory project inspired by Ecuadorian horchata, a traditional herbal beverage from southern Ecuador. Developed using a research-creation methodology, the project transformed the waste generated during the preparation of horchata into a sculptural material used to reinterpret the traditional “ato,” a local technique associated with market practices. The work combines visual, tactile, and olfactory elements and incorporates essential oils extracted from the same plant species to create an immersive sensory environment. Audience perception was assessed through surveys of 304 visitors. The results demonstrate bioart’s capacity to transform organic waste into a medium for cultural expression, fostering connections between sustainability, heritage, and artistic practice.