mischer’traxler

As a permanent interactive installation in an exhibition about chocolate at the Zaishui Art Museum in Rizhao, cacao cloud invites viewers to discover the overlooked actors behind cacao’s growth: tiny pollinating midges.
Only specific, minuscule insects of the Forcipomyia genus are able to pollinate cacao trees. Measuring just 2–3 mm, these midges are barely visible to the human eye—yet they play a vital role in enabling the production of chocolate. Despite their ecological importance, their contribution remains largely unacknowledged.
Suspended within six sculptural interpretations of cacao trees, 140 mouth-blown glass spheres each enclose a magnified cacao flower and a magnified pollinating midge—handmade from laser-cut foil and felt. These elements are scaled up tenfold, drawing attention to the small midge that otherwise remains unseen.
As visitors move through the installation, nearby spheres begin to softly illuminate. Within them, the insects stir to life, fluttering gently and creating a delicate soundscape when the glass is touched. The glass bulbs protect these fragile creatures while allowing for interaction—creating fleeting moments of connection between human presence and the invisible work of pollinators.
cacao cloud is part of a larger series developed for a museum dedicated to the world of chocolate. Together with other installations in the exhibition, it offers layered perspectives on the cacao tree—from its rainforest roots to its vascular tissue—inviting a deeper understanding of the natural systems that sustain it.