Renowned Japanese food artist Ayako Suwa was in town last month to introduce some of her creations to Hong Kong. Shopping mall wtc more is showcasing the artist and her material in an exhibition that will run until early next month.
Like well known fashion designer Rei Kawakubo, the founder of Comme des Garcons who excels in turning simple materials into eye-catching fashion apparel, Suwa takes everyday food items and turns them into art - art you can eat.
A graduate of Japan's respected Kanazawa College of Art, with a background in graphic design, Suwa initially worked on interior design with Tokyo company D&Department. But in 2006, she ventured on her own to form Food Creation. She wanted to explore food not just as visual and taste mediums, but as one that can be appreciated by all five senses.
Suwa explains that when, for example, we look at a painting and listen to music, our visual and auditory senses are stimulated. 'But when you eat, all your five senses are fulfilled,' she says, adding: 'it's also a very good medium to express feelings too.
A food art item, for Suwa, is something you look at and smell before putting into your mouth and biting into it, hearing your teeth grind into it, tasting it and feeling the texture with your tongue.
Suwa talks about the Christmas-themed food creations featured at the demonstration event of the exhibition.
She says just one bite is enough to get the message contained in any of her artistic creations. For Suwa, food creates emotional response.