Still...life choices, 2023
Through meticulous composition and lighting, I construct images that celebrate the beauty and complexity of culinary heritage. Each still life photograph is an intimate exploration of colours, textures, and the absurd, prompting viewers to reflect on the intertwined relationship between identity, culture, technology, and cuisine.
I once heard that if you want to stage your own disappearance you need to add to the ‘noise’ (meaningless data). For me as a photographer, Articifial Intelligence (AI) has staged the disappearance of photography, and the way in which photographs can now be viewed. In the hyper realities of AI generated imagery, adding ‘noise’ can be in the form of imperfections and the absurd that attune us to how we might see and respond to a ‘noisy’ life layered with multiple distractions.
The photographs created here are an attempt to add to this worldly noise of image-making by mirroring and imitating the way in which AI creates an image via the use of word prompts. These images reference my upbringing and cultural food identity. This identity is a vibrant mix of colours and flavours and a deep respect for growers, producers, community meals and conversation.
To produce the images shown here, I have used objects that are out of place. To mimic early AI generation, I have intentionally curated very flat, two-dimensional tableaus that do not allow space for the viewer to place themselves within the visual frame, revealing next to nothing of the context in which they were created.
These four photographs make up a quadriptych of work that will be exhibited as part of the IVX Florence Biennale October 14 - 22nd 2023, with the theme; I am you, Individual and collective Identities in Contemporary Art and Design.
Still…Life Choices, 2023
This is an image of my grandparents’ clock. The image speaks to a time in my childhood when my awareness was tuning into notions of environmental care and sustainability - a time when ‘the clock started ticking’ on climate change. In response to today’s environmental urgency, this image references ‘running out of time’ and the profound impact our personal and collective food choices and food production practices can have our health and the natural environment.
Everyday Exotics, 2023
The food photographed in this image, ‘Everyday Exotics’ was sourced from my local farmers market. These foods are readily available to me however, they would have once been considered exotic to my Anglo cultural heritage. This image references a move away from the exotic tastes of the ‘colonial outpost’, towards a universal, globalised and diverse food experience.
Waging Wellness, 2023
This image tableau speaks to the world’s online fascination with food and wellbeing, referencing the many foods now being touted as ‘super foods’. I look to explore the ways in which social media has influenced how we view ingredients from a cultural or commercial viewpoint. Here I explore the way in which food provides pleasure, informs our identity and is valued as a status symbol.
Still on the kitchen bench, 2023
Drawing on the visual language of the Flemish and Dutch painters, this modern still life considers the timelessness and accessibility of everyday food and its place in the world today. Chilli, oil, eggs and oranges would have been assembled in Venetian kitchens centuries ago, and continue to be staples in modern cuisine across the globe.
As a contemporary artist, my mission is to transcend visual clichés and uncover new perspectives on culinary storytelling. It is my intention to evoke nostalgia, curiosity, and contemplation around food, and the food choices and traditions that shape our world. By inviting viewers to immerse themselves in my images, I aspire to ignite dialogues that extend far beyond the confines of the frame. Beyond the plate, my work delves into the deeper layers of societal, environmental, and economic aspects tied to the food we consume. By highlighting both the opulence and scarcity of ingredients, I invite contemplation on issues such as sustainability, cultural exchange, and global interconnectedness. Ultimately, my work serves as an ode to cultural diversity, an invitation to savour the richness of heritage, and a gentle reminder of our shared humanity—one still life, and one photograph at a time.