Art Addresses The Politics Of Food At Delfina Foundation

Tabish Khan
By Tabish Khan Last edited 122 months ago
Art Addresses The Politics Of Food At Delfina Foundation
Gayle Chong Kwan, Wastescape. Photo © Tim Bowditch
Gayle Chong Kwan, Wastescape. Photo © Tim Bowditch
Senam Okudzeto, Porte-Oranges. Photo © Tim Bowditch
Senam Okudzeto, Porte-Oranges. Photo © Tim Bowditch
Zineb Sedira, Sugar Routes II. Photo © Tim Bowditch
Zineb Sedira, Sugar Routes II. Photo © Tim Bowditch
Abbas Akhavan, Well. Photo © Tim Bowditch
Abbas Akhavan, Well. Photo © Tim Bowditch
Candice Lin, Bacium Sub Cauda. Photo © Tim Bowditch
Candice Lin, Bacium Sub Cauda. Photo © Tim Bowditch
Zineb Sedira, SEAFARIN. Photo © Tim Bowditch
Zineb Sedira, SEAFARIN. Photo © Tim Bowditch

The Delfina Foundation has expanded and re-opened its gallery space in Victoria and marks the event with a group exhibition on the politics of food. A diverse and international selection of artists seek to explore the stories behind the food that we eat or don't eat.

They range from the effects on daily life in Japan after Fukushima to the slaughter of Haitian pigs to prevent the spread of swine flu. Ten artists feature and each one takes a different approach and uses different media to reflect the politics of their native countries.

Sugar arrives from all around the world to Marseille and Zineb Sedira's photographs of sugar mines show that they all end up in the same store where the natural shape of the sugar creates a landscape all of its own. While Jae Yong Ree has taken pictures of rice mills multiple times and overlaid them to create a fading effect as a recognition of Korea's disappearing rural culture.

One of the most impressive sculptures is Gayle Chong Kwan's city made from plastic bottles. An optimistic recognition that as recycling has moved on in strides, it's only a matter of time before recycled materials become commonplace in construction.

Abbas Akhavan had a great solo show at this gallery last year, and once again he steals the show with his water fountain made from stacked dishes. They reference a neighbourhood in Dubai that serves the nation's ever growing hospitality industry, and by creating something decorative out of a sign of manual labour it cuts through to the work that goes on behind the scenes to cater for a very opulent sector.

Not all the works are as appealing but this is a strong re-opening from Delfina Foundation with many notable works from an international roster of talented artists.

The Politics of Food is on at Delfina Foundation, 29/31 Catherine Place, SW1E 6DY until 15 February. Entrance is free.

Last Updated 24 January 2014