# Allora & Calzadilla Exhibit Puerto Rico’s US Relationship at Lisson

**Published:** 2026-08-07T02:11:11.112Z  
**Topic:** Allora  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/f8822a92-6bc4-4446-8603-dcbe54d967a3

Allora & Calzadilla’s London show spotlights Puerto Rico’s “foreign in a domestic sense” status, linking historic tax disputes to modern economic strain.

Allora & Calzadilla’s “Foreign in a Domestic Sense” opened at Lisson Gallery in London, foregrounding Puerto Rico’s ambiguous U.S. status through a sculpture of black‑wax‑coated oranges that visitors must pass on entry and exit, underscoring the island’s long‑standing fiscal and resource‑extraction challenges [1].

| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Exhibition | “Foreign in a Domestic Sense” at Lisson Gallery |
| Opening date | November 11 2017 (closing) |
| Core work | “Loss” (2017) – black‑wax oranges |
| Catalyst | Historical 1901 Supreme Court ruling on Puerto Rican import duties |

## Historical context behind the art  
The show’s title derives from Chief Justice Edward E. White’s 1901 Supreme Court opinion that described Puerto Rico as “foreign in a domestic sense,” a phrase that frames the duo’s critique of the island’s unincorporated‑territory status [1]. The artists trace this legal legacy to a 1901 customs case where merchant Samuel Downes sued over import duties on oranges, arguing that Puerto Rico, now a U.S. territory, should be exempt. The Court rejected the claim, separating Puerto Rican civil liberties from federal fiscal control [1]. By casting oranges in black wax, the artists symbolise the economic extraction that has persisted for over a century, a theme reinforced by the Jones Act’s requirement that all island imports travel on U.S.-flagged vessels, inflating prices and limiting competition [1].

## Visual and performative elements  
Beyond “Loss,” the exhibition includes a 15‑minute film, “The Night We Became People Again,” shot at abandoned sites such as the former CORCO petrochemical plant and a sugar refinery, visually echoing the island’s depopulation as residents seek mainland opportunities [1]. A transformer‑explosion relic titled “Blackout” (2017) embodies Puerto Rico’s chronic power‑grid failures, while the massive wall relief “Manifest” (2017) is cast from bat guano and a cargo‑ship engine—materials tied to U.S. resource extraction and the Jones Act’s shipping monopoly [1]. Periodic performances by the London‑based choir MUSARC, singing David Lang’s “mains hum,” activate the space, linking the artwork’s themes to the lived experience of electricity scarcity on the island [1].

## No crypto metrics reported  
The sources provide no data on digital‑asset prices, tokenomics, or on‑chain activity related to the exhibition or the artists. Consequently, conventional crypto‑focused tables (price, 24‑hour move, support/resistance) are not applicable in this context.

## What to watch  
- Monitor any future exhibitions or collaborations that might integrate blockchain or NFT components, as such moves could introduce new digital‑asset dynamics for the artists.  
- Watch for policy developments around the Jones Act or U.S. territorial tax law, which could alter the economic backdrop that the exhibition critiques.  

The show re‑examines a century‑old legal paradox, reminding viewers that Puerto Rico’s fiscal limbo remains a live issue, amplified by recent disasters and ongoing political debate.

## Sources
1. Hyperallergic — [Allora & Calzadilla Confront Puerto Rico's Fraught Relationship with the US](https://hyperallergic.com/allora-calzadilla-confront-puerto-ricos-fraught-relationship-with-the-us/)
2. De — [Allora & Calzadilla Confront Puerto Rico's Fraught Relationship...](https://de.pinterest.com/pin/allora-calzadilla-confront-puerto-ricos-fraught-relationship-with-the-us--231513237078448170/)
3. Allentownartmuseum — [Interventions: Video Works by Allora and Calzadilla](https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/exhibitions/interventions-video-works-by-allora-and-calzadilla/)
4. Judithbenhamou — [Allora & Calzadilla: The most talented American artists of their...](https://judithbenhamou.com/allora-calzadilla-sparking-controversy/)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Allora & Calzadilla Exhibit Puerto Rico’s US Relationship at Lisson", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/f8822a92-6bc4-4446-8603-dcbe54d967a3