Mortality Tables

Marija Mojca Pungerčar’s chocolate project is named after mortality tables, which display the probability of surviving to a certain age. The calculation of demographic statistics are performed separately for men and women in relation to their remaining life expectancy. The insurance industry uses mortality tables to calculate life annuities. Using statistics – which evidence a longer life period for women in comparison to men – as their reference point, insurance companies accordingly pay out smaller pensions to women, despite identical financial contributions and years of saving gender-wise.

The milk chocolate Mortality Tables contain an imprint of life expectancy data for men and women, calculated on the basis of the German DAV 94 tables, which apply to Slovene insurance policies. The project attempts to raise awareness through pleasure, shedding light on the concealed discrimination of women in capitalism by the use of demographic statistics. Marija Mojca Pungerčar

Author: Marija Mojca Pungerčar; Curator: Jadranka Ljubičič; Assistant: Ana Grobler; Production: KUD Trivia; Co-production: Red Dawns Festival, Alkatraz Gallery; Supported by: Ministry of Culture Slovenia, Global Fund for Women; Sponsor: Čokoladnica Rajska ptica; Organization: City of Women; In collaboration with: KUD Trivia, the Old Power Station – SMEEL.