The Spanish penal system prohibits female inmates from cooking in their cells, unlike in other countries like Italy where they are allowed and provided with "small kitchens." This may seem insignificant, but for prisoners, cooking is a way to connect with the everyday life they had before entering prison. These restrictions that strip people of autonomy and empowerment accentuate the mechanisms of confinement.

Retomar Sonidos is a sound piece resulting from a series of workshops held at the Brians penitentiary center, which brought together twelve female inmates. The proposal allowed the participants to express themselves through cooking, despite being deprived of the proper kitchen utensils. Following techniques used to create Foley sound effects in film, objects found in the center were used to recreate sounds that evoke moments in the kitchen. Thus, the sound of uncorking a bottle, whisking an egg or frying potatoes resonated again after disappearing from their reality for years. Retomar Sonidos is part of a larger project called Cooking in Maximum Security, which traverses between anthropology and art.

Started in Italy and developed in different penitentiary centers, it seeks to approach a complex context that serves as a metaphor for reflecting on power relationships and hierarchies of the state.

This piece won the 2018 Amposta Biennial.