What standards must be met in order to term something as ‘art’ in regards to food and art based on food, and do both hold the same degree of artistic value?
Defining what is and what is not ‘art’ is an art unto itself. Ideas and concepts are far-reaching, and although context is important, I believe that any human creation is a form of art. So every time you make toast and butter it, creating buttered toast, you’re making art? Not necessarily. Again, context matters. A food like Lauren Ko’s, however, is definitively art. Her pies are visually stunning, intricate, complex, and completely edible. I see food as an art medium that is unique in that is stimulates all your senses. You cannot eat the Mona Lisa, try as you might, but a fancy meal thoughtfully arranged in a tower is art you’re meant to eat.
Beautiful geometric fruit pies by Lauren Ko
Visual artist Siliga David Setoga uses his art to reference food and the culture that surrounds it, sometimes even using food to express these ideas, but this is not art you can eat. With a focus on modern Samoan culture in New Zealand, Setoga explores food traditions and concepts about food. As he peels a taro root with a can of fish, or stamps on carefully ordered rows of Weet-Bix, you are required to consider why he is doing these things, what he is trying to convey, and what other message(s) you as a viewer can glean from such a performance.
Writing is also a form of artistic expression, and is the most straight-forward way of conveying meaning. In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, when asked about the whereabouts of Polonius, Hamlet claims that he is at supper, but not his supper, for he is the supper: “A certain convocation of politic worms are e’en at him. Your worm is your only emperor for diet.” This is a strong message about organism and origin. The worms one uses to catch a fish may have consumed the dirt a king is buried in, sharing a universal essence. Here Shakespeare explains concepts regarding the circle of life, which is in essence all about consumption. Food is a universal experience, shared by all living beings, so it is a wholly relatable topic fitting to express one’s thoughts artistically either through visual art or writing.
Regarding artistic value, the art you can eat and the art you cannot are perfectly valid forms of art, and long or short, both have stories to tell.
I love your blog Kaylin!! A sentence which really stood out for me is that “food as an art medium that is unique in that is stimulates all your senses”, I definitely think that when appreciating food, all your senses should be able to taste and feel satisfied, not just your stomach. For me personally, I really do take into consideration the ambiance that I am situated in while endeavouring in my meals and it really does affect the flavour. Senses do work together to produce an end product, that is definitely why, food is an art and should be salvaged as such. A comparison would be regarding how one can appreciate art itself as a stand-alone, but it does heighten the understanding when you are aware of the artist intentions and background. Art is definitely subjective, and art needs the viewer as much as the viewer needs the art in order to appreciate, that goes the same with different types of food. Your title really captures the essence of the blog content and gives the reader an insight to your viewpoint from the very beginning.
Firstly, I really wish I could eat those pies. Thanks for making my stomach miserable now. 🙁
There is no doubt that what constitutes art is a story and a creative process, so I completely agree with you that many forms of food creation are valid art. I personally think this is why we can have more enjoyment eating a homemade cake rather than a storebought sponge from Countdown – perhaps we unconsciously appreciate artistic input in our food more-so than mass-produced sustenance.