We explore how flavours make you feel through chocolate, art, psychology and wellness.
We are a bunch of misfits, poets, scientists and gluttons who blend our favourite flavours and tall tales into tasty treats. To create meaningful art requires knowledge of your chosen medium. We are working to understand and experiment with the science behind food and it’s social relevance so that we can constantly push our work in new directions.
We want to tell stories that can only be told through food. We are constantly uploading videos and articles that document our projects and provide a platform for gastronomic communication.
Our first chocolate bar – Chapter One- was released in Bristol on Easter weekend. They come with a link to Chocolamentary, a film we made in Peru about the incredibly rare beans we work with and the effects of the cacoa farms on sustainability and wellbeing of the farmers. Our bars are wrapped in screen printed drawings of 8000 year old cave paintings we had the privilege to document while in Peru. The chocolate is made with love in our lab in Bristol and tells the story of this humble and important cacao farm. Chapter One is currently available to buy on our website and through the Watershed cinema in Bristol.
Understory was founded by James Wheale and Annie Zimmerman. The company won the New Talent Award at the Pervasive Media Studio to develop a prototype Dining Console. Understory was awarded CATIM funding by U.W.E to work collaboratively together on how storytelling affects flavour and music. In late 2014 Understory was awarded Arts Council funding for an R+D period to develop ‘The Great Chocolate War’ – a storytelling dining experience that utilises our dining console and the world’s rarest chocolate – Fortunato no. 4. We’ve worked as consultants for Unilever, Dove and Lipton, appeared on BBC radio 4 and curated edible experiences for BBC Radio 6 festival, Food Connections festival, Bestival and Taste Chocolate festival.
Understory’s next projects will involve chocolate (of course), music, and wellbeing. Watch this space – there’s many wonderful and delicious things to come.