Mini Post 3

The Feast and Famine exhibit showcased artwork revolving around food and the idea of food in today's society. The were not just pieces of food on display but rather art that spoke to societal and cultural views that many people look past on a daily basis. Society has been engraved with ideas on the food we eat, how it looks, and where it was made. The artists showcased in the feast and Famine exhibit reveal the flawed views of food our culture has today. Similar to the artists of the Renaissance, these artists shed light on issues during their time such as consumerism, health and food production. Artists such as Chris Thorson spoke of the way we look at food and what we see as palatable while artists like Lauren Greenfield shed light on the issue of health and what we deem healthy.







Chris Thorsons pieces that were displayed in the exhibit were Boxed In and Harvest Fresh. These two pieces work hand in hand to show the consumer's need for beauty in their food. The food today is purposely manufactured to look more aesthetically pleasing to the consumers eye. Pumped with chemicals to make fruit grow larger or have a brighter color or no more if not less healthy than fruit such as the ones showcased in Harvest Fresh. These fruits are bland in color and are much smaller in size making them seem inedible but are actually more beneficial than the colorful more beautiful fruit shown in Boxed in. pieces speak of the misconceptions our society carries today


regarding food as it is perceived in the consumers eye.





Another highlight of the exhibit was Lauren Greenfields Aiva, 16 (from the series Thin). This piece focused on the standards health and weight in today's society. You can see in the photo a young girl and her progress battling anorexia. Greenfield highlighted the physical and mental toll that many people have achieved their ideal weight. This is a struggle many people go through today feeling as though they do not fit the standard of attractive or healthy in society. Greenfield shares this struggle to challenge our views on the idea of perfection and health. This can also be seen in many Renaissance paintings where men and women are painted with exaggerated bodies which are impossible for someone to attain.








Sandro Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” shows goddess Venus arriving at the shore after her birth. Completely nude the painting depicts the beauty of the goddess. Venus being the goddess of love and beauty was the idea of perfection during the Renaissance. Similar to Greenfields Avia the goddess is depicted with unrealistic features that was deemed beautiful at this time. This social standard for what is and isn't beauty is what Greenfield is challenging in society today. Another example of this is Michelangelo's “David” where David is shown to be lean and trim . Michelangelo detailed David with a chiseled torso and muscular arms. His body similar to the goddess in “The Birth of Venus” was an unrealistic perception of what masculinity was during the time.