arts // no. 12 theotherpress.ca

‘Eeast for the Eyes’:
the story of food
Photography

» A collection of multimedia visuals from a broad array of artists

Alexis Zygan
Staff Writer

The still-life art form depicts inanimate
objects such as fruit in a bowl. Paintings
influence the visual composition of food in early
photography. The invention of smartphones has

allowed new ways to look at food. The
modern #foodstagram encompasses
technical aspects of still-life while

 

cc Ihe exhibition includes a
very diverse range

of work, but it’s not

exclusive to fine art.

 

[Feast for the Eyes: also subverting the genre.

The Story of Food Artworks worth checking

in Photography] ~” out in “StillLife,” include a
demonstrates polaroid photograph of a
how food banana taken by pop art
photography visionary Andy Warhol
has been and a series of close-up
critical to the Lp gelatin-silver prints of
development of AX ro fruits and vegetables by
the hospitality Charles Jones. The tightly
industry and Gy \) cropped shots seduce

to the evolution BS the viewer.

of the cookbook, “Around

which many people the Table”

might have a close, depicts people’s

sometimes daily, familiarity ritualistic

with,” says The Polygon relationship with

director Reid Shier in an email food and how they gather

for meals. Anne Testut
travelled around Europe in
the late gos knocking on
doors asking if she could
photograph people during
dinnertime. Her insight from
the series is that despite societal
changes, dinnertime
remains central to
connection. Peter

interview with the Other Press.
Located in The Shipyards at Lonsdale Quay,
a 15-minute SeaBus from downtown Vancouver,
is The Polygon. The gallery hosts art ina
strikingly futurist architectural structure. Feast
for the Eyes: The Story of Food in Photography
premiered at The Polygon on March 4.
Separated into three different
sections “Still Life,” “Playing
with Food,” and “Around

 

the Table.” Curated by Menzel’s photos

Susan Bright and Denise initially published
Wolff, the exhibit in Hungry Planet:
explores the history What the World

of food from the lens Eats depicts what

of photographers families worldwide
and how our purchase for their
relationship to food weekly groceries.
parallels the cultural Shier admires a
environment. Feast Cibachrome photo
for the Eyes shares taken by Nan Goldin
art on queerness, that captures the
gentrification, diet intimacy of friendship
culture, and gender and celebration.

roles. A lot has changed The third section,
since the beginning of food “Playing with Food,”

acknowledges how food awakens
a sensory experience. Mothers scold
their kids when their children throw peas at
each other, but it’s okay to play with food if it’s for
the sake of art. Notable artworks from “Playing

photography, but what remains
the same is that food livens our senses
and brings people together.

CC

 

with Food” include Double Mona Lisa sculpted
out of peanut butter and jelly by multidisciplinary
artist Vik Muniz; a colourful ring of jelly and fruit
photographed by queer photographer Joseph
Maida with caption #thingsarequeer; and “a photo
by Robert Doisneau of Picasso eating breakfast,
with what looks like his hands on the table. It
takes a moment to realize the fingers are actually
bread rolls. It’s gentle and fun,” says Shier.

During my visit to The Polygon, I observed
Semiotics of the Kitchen, a six-minute video
by feminist visual artist Martha Rosler,
demonstrating kitchen items in alphabetical
order—aggression crescendoing with each item.
At K, she stares deadpan at the viewer thrusting a
knife in a stabbing motion. The black-and-white

film parodies kitchen shows while
subverting gender roles that
women belong in the
kitchen—an idea that
remains prevalent
in today’s
cultural capital
considering
“return to
the kitchen”
memes.

An
exhibit
about food is

not complete
without
photography of
recipes. Beyond
a backdoor, there
isa lineup of Weight
Watchers recipe cards
from the ’7os on display.
The notion that women derive their value based
on how their body looks continues to influence
modern beauty standards. In the same area, an
advertisement without the text forces the viewer
to guess the messaging.

The Polygon is open Wednesday through
Sunday from gam to 5pm (open till 8pm on
Thursdays), and no appointment is necessary.
The gallery takes COVID precautions to ensure
a safe visiting experience. When I went to visit
the exhibit on Thursday morning, I was the only
person there. Admission is by donation, with a
recommended donation of $10. If you want to
learn more about the exhibit, check out the Feast
for the Eyes: The Story of Food in Photography
coffee-table book on sale at The Polygon gift shop.

PP)

Picasso eating breakfast, with what looks like his hands on the table.
It takes a moment to realize the fingers are actually bread rolls.

 

Illustrations by Janis McMath