"Is Food Art?"

Mark Lane

AAD 250

Food as Art Research

“Is Food Art?”

            This article taken from the U.K.’s webpage for the Guardian newspaper describes the food as art debate as it manifested itself in Europe a few years ago. In 2007, a German art festival called “Documenta”, hosted only two artists from Spain, one of whom was a famous Spanish chef. This caused a great deal of controversy as Spanish artists were furious that a chef, whom they do not consider to be an artist, was invited to the famous German art festival. The article delves into the question of, “What is art?”, and goes on to form the conclusion that culinary specialists belong to the community of the arts in the same way as a traditional artist does.

            Susan Smillie, a blogger for The Guardian, makes a convincing argument that food is in fact, art. Smillie takes a post-modern ideological stance by arguing that it is up to the viewer to decide whether or not something is art, and that one does not have to be considered an “expert” to decide something’s artistic value. She claims that there is immaculate preparation involved in some of the more elaborate culinary experiences, and that people experience food with all their senses and their mind, which justifies considering food art. This is the exact same issue that was brought up in Elizabeth Telfer’s piece, and I tend to agree with her argument. The food was created for the enjoyment and pleasure of the viewer and consumer, and if the food moves people and causes them to engage all their senses and mind, then why wouldn’t it be art? It’s not as if these folks are going to a Las Vegas buffet at 4:00 a.m. to wolf down some buffalo wings; The culinary artists that were invited to this art festival delicately prepare their work using high quality ingredients and a sophisticated approach to engage the taste buds, and the deserve to be called artists.

Source:

Smillie, S.(2007, May). Is food Art? Word of Mouth Blog [guardian online newspaper] Retrieved July 31, 2009 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2007/may/24/theatreoffood