Khoka Project has dedicated over a decade to studying coca through its own agency, recognizing it as a living and active entity that has both shaped and been shaped by its geographical and cultural environment. Inspired by the pioneering studies of Timothy Plowman, the foremost coca researcher of the 20th century, the project adopts a transdisciplinary perspective that bridges disciplines as diverse as botany, geography, archaeology, history, ethnohistory, ethnology, chemistry, and medicine. This comprehensive approach unveils the multiple dimensions of coca beyond dominant discourses, fostering a profound understanding of its influence on the cultural, social, and economic dynamics of South America, both in the Andes and the Amazon, and asserting its relevance in the present day.

In Medellín, Colombia, the project has established a living garden that houses the four ancestral varieties of coca cultivated in South America. This space not only preserves the biological diversity of the plant but also symbolizes the unity of the continent, serving as a living archive for its study and preservation.

Through rigorous analysis of archaeological, historical, and ethnographic sources, Khoka Project has mapped the geographical and cultural routes that coca has traversed, connecting us with indigenous peoples and the various actors who have utilized it over time. This approach has enabled a deeper comprehension of its medicinal, social, economic, cultural, spiritual, and symbolic values, while maintaining an open perspective on its impact across different geographies and historical contexts.

Khoka Project unfolds as a transmedia initiative, extending through an interactive audiovisual archive, a book, a digital interface, an academic repository, a documentary series, and an art exhibition. The concept of the “archive” lies at the core of this endeavor, amalgamating information from academic sources, material culture, iconography, botanical specimens, maps, and interviews to offer a comprehensive vision that captures the complexity of the voices that have spoken and continue to speak about coca.

Through the beauty that envelops its history and by viewing art as a bridge between times, knowledge, and people, Khoka Project invites a deep reflection on coca—a plant as revered as it is misunderstood. The project does not seek its vindication as a mere act of redemption; instead, it proposes its integration into the present, honoring its cultural legacy while opening new possibilities for the future, where its potential can be recognized and reimagined.