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"Feast & Famine explores food as a social, political, and bodily phenomenon. The exhibition considers food as a commodity; the relationship between food, death, sex, and the abject; food’s relationship to global economics and geo-politics; food and its likeness as a medium for artistic experimentation; the food chain and the environmental impacts of food production; and food justice". Food provides nourishment for any living being therefore it is a necessity. Everything and everyone in this world relies on food to be productive. The exhibit shows how food highlights social injustices, wasting of food, agriculture, the human body, etc. More importantly it helps us realize how it impacts our daily life even though we do not think about it. Eating food is so normal to us that we take it for granted. This exhibit does an excellent job of showing us different subjects.

What It Once Was, Tamara Kostianovsky

This is a creation by Tamara Kostianovsky called What it Once Was. It is a representation of animal meats, and carcasses made with her own clothing fabrics. She used fabrics because she believes it is more visually digestible. She explains: "I used the various fabrics and textures to conjure flesh, bone gristle and slabs of fat in live-size sculptures of livestock carcasses. the material connects our bodies with the ones in the work, bringing violent acts into a familiar realm". She created this artwork to show the violent and gruesome behaviors of humans for bodily needs. It shows the level of violence humans are willing to exert on animals to feed themselves.

The Liberation of Lady J and UB, Renee Cox 1998

The Liberation of Lady J and UB by Renee Cox stands out with its 3 figures in the foreground. On the left you see Aunt Jemima and on the left you see Uncle Ben. These two figure on very popular food items you can find in the supermarket. Personally growing up I've eaten Aunt Jemima's pancakes many times. Renee Cox (middle) is holding the arms of both of these people in this artwork. Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben have been racially stereotyped by being the face of these food items. Renee Cox has dressed them up into powerful figures with Aunt Jemima being a model and Uncle Ben being a fighter. This shows how she is freeing them of their labels and showing their true dominance.

Still Life with Tazza, Pieter Claesz

Claesz, in Still Life with Tazza, does a good job of showing what a wealthy person would of ate back in his times. In the painting you can see the bread roll, walnuts, lemon, alcohol, the fancy knife and glass. He does excellent job of showing the colors in the good and drink. It shows the beauty in the food he is depicting. However if you relate this to Feast and Famine it does not align with its view. Nutrition is the most important value of food not its appeal. This food is not acceptable if it is harming any animal or goes against the social values that are shown in the exhibit.

Clara Peeters, Still Life with Flowers, Dried Fruit, Pretzels and Almonds. 1611

This still life artwork by Clara Peeters shows many fancy items. It shows flowers, goblet, dried fruits, pretzels, and almonds. Back in the day these food items were considered luxury items that most people could not afford. Today we have become so familiar to food items such as these to a point where we don't even think about the labor it may take to acquiring this food. Sometimes it is our nature to even waste this kind of food if we are full or do not want to eat it anymore by throwing it in the trash. Feast and Famine exhibit shows us to appreciate food in all its forms. Food is a luxury that most humans are lucky to have.

Stokstad, Marilyn, and Michael Watt Cothren. Art History. Sixth ed., II, Pearson, 2018.

https://www.designboom.com/art/meat-carcasses-recreated-in-fabric-by-tamara-kostianovsky/