Is Food Art?
“The act of eating engages all senses as well as the mind.” Can food truly be art, a question that arises in today’s modern views of art? A blog by Susan Smillie presents that very question. Smillie introduces the notion of food as art by discussing the controversy around the invitation of a renowned chef, Ferran Adria, to a prestigious German art show. Many critiques said it was a disgrace to view food as art, because food is merely a crowd pleaser. Smillie refutes the arguments in many thought provoking ways. She discusses how any reputable artist is influenced by his or her critiques, much like a chef, and thus how there work is as much art as any art.
Smillie explains how “art is work that moves individuals,” bringing up many of the same notions that Kosymer discusses in her book The meaning of Taste. Kosymer illustrates the many symbolic meanings of food, and how those symbols are very much a part of art. She discusses not only how the shapes of food have an underlying art, but the aesthetics of taste, each of which can move an individual in many ways. We all value our sense of taste and if that were taken away wouldn’t that have a profound affect, a moving affect?
The act of eating engages all of the senses, as well as the mind” (Similie). A quote that cannot be easily argued with, and which Kosymer explains through the story of a father recognizing his daughter’s love through the sensation of tast. Our taste buds create sensations far beyond what we know, emotions that we wouldn’t expect, much like any other form of art. Our taste has a considerable effect on our minds, both which Smillie and Kosymer perceive as part of the beauty of food.
Smillie, Susan. (2007, May). Is food Art?. The Observer, Food Monthly (online blog). Retrived April 24th, 2008 from http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/food/2007/05/theatre_of_food.html
2 comments:
I found the same article by Smillie. The most notable thing that I found, reading the article was when she said “art is work that moves individuals.” This is pretty much exactly what my definition of art is. That is why food can or cannot be art, depending on the person. Most people are moved by a very eloquent designed dish and find it to be a piece of art. For some people, however, they just do not get it. That does not mean that we say food is not an art form. The majority of people like watching the Food Channel and looking at fine cuisine – It moves them and therefore IS art.
The idea of food of art definitely has merit, but I think food is limited in once sense and that is the range of emotions that food can portray is limited in my opinion. The more conventional forms of art can express hate, fear and remorse, but the purpose of food is for enjoyment. I think food is art, but I like to classify it as "functional art" because it the chef can express emotions through food and it also serves a tangible purpose. Perhaps the art world would be more welcoming to food as art if it was given a label like functional art, but who knows?
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