An NFT collection of food or monsters? Artist says it’s both – he finds the ‘beasts’ in mirrored images of dishes, from dumplings to French toast
- David Leung Dai-wai is the mastermind behind digital art project ‘Beasts From Feasts’. Each art piece is a mirrored image of a dish that looks like a monster
- 12 Hong Kong dishes – from dim sum to dumplings – have been tweaked into beastly faces and put on display at PMQ Taste Library in Central
“I love taking food photos, but it wasn’t until [this year] that I had an opportunity to add an extra identity to my portfolio – artist. It was unintentional. I was in Australia, where I took a random photo of the sky and posted it online, and the reactions were intriguing.
“People saw different things in the shape of the clouds, from the Michelin man to a burger, and even the Spotify logo. It made me delve deeper into the phenomenon known as pareidolia, when you see specific things in random images. Most people use clouds as an example, but I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be interesting if that were applied to other contexts?’”
Finding inspiration on a plate
“I looked through my tens of thousands of food shots, thinking I might find something: maybe a ham and cheese croissant becomes more than just a pastry.
“Some are easy to identify, but some require imagination. And then there’s a moment – I feel like I’m not looking at the ‘beast’, rather it’s looking back at me. It’s a bit scary.
In perfect symmetry
“I have a bit of obsessive compulsive disorder, so I like things to be orderly. That’s why [all my pieces are manipulated mirror images and] have symmetry. I haven’t really done much to the photos.
When you see them, you know it’s a mirror image. But that’s not to say it’s simple. I’ve named my concept “symmetrical pareidolism”, which I hope will become synonymous with my art.
There are Instagram accounts that document the phenomenon on the streets, but they’re more about daily observations. You also have ink splatter tests, which are more about medical science, or psychology, than art. So that’s why I thought about seeing pareidolia through the lens of art.”
In search of the beast
“I don’t go to restaurants looking to create a beast. My priority is to shoot appetising photos, and then see if anything can emerge from it. Honestly, thinking of all the photos I’ve taken of food over the years, you realise after a time, there is no value to them. But now I’m looking at them in a different way. I’m giving them a second life.
“Each ‘beast’ has a name, depending on their characteristics and aesthetic, [and] ingredients. The possibilities are endless. Wherever I eat, there is a potential art piece. Whether it’s the cheapest siu mai or a highly crafted dish from a Japanese restaurant, it’s possible.”
Revisiting a childhood dream
“I studied fine art at university, but quickly realised it wasn’t a viable career path. So I switched to becoming a multimedia designer, because I also had an interest in computing. Then I went into the corporate world, where I discovered branding, then marketing, then advertising.
Coming full circle
“I wanted to include a charity element with Beasts from Feasts. On behalf of every NFT owner, I will plant one tree via [Hong Kong-based company] EcoMatcher for every beast sold. If we take care of the planet and lower carbon emissions, then it will benefit the ecosystem and everyone in it.
“And, of course, this will impact on the produce and ingredients that find their way back to the restaurant dining table. And it comes full circle when I take the photo of the dish.”
On being new to NFTs
“Within three to four weeks, everything was done – from branding to creation of the beasts and getting them ready to launch. I put 111 beasts on OpenSea [a digital marketplace for NFTs] and launched on February 22, 2022 – I chose the date because it satisfied my OCD, but also because I really needed to give myself a deadline. Sometimes, things just happen out of necessity.”
The future of food
“Beasts from Feasts NFT holders will get perks like off-menu dishes at Little Bao or free coffee at Interval. There will be one-on-one cocktail classes with Antonio Lai [Chun-nam], of Quinary. I didn’t want to ask too much of Danny [Yip] at The Chairman, so I’ve negotiated to take a number of bookings throughout the year, maybe one table every month.
“I’m also doing something with Sandbox, where they’ll turn my beasts into avatars in the metaverse. I’m super interested in creating backstories for each of my characters – what are their personalities? What do they like doing? Who do they hang out with? What are the relationships between them?
“It’s been so much fun being imaginative. Every two weeks we’ll create animations that will appear in the metaverse.”
Paving the way for the next generation
“The reason I flew to Australia at the beginning of 2022 was to send my kids to school. I was talking to my son about what courses he was thinking of taking at university. He’s 17 and didn’t really have an idea about which direction he should go in.
“I wanted to tell him the world is constantly changing. Many things may become obsolete. New things will come out, fast. During these times, you need to grab those opportunities. Use your resources and your connections. And then the whole NFT thing came about. Turns out, he had a crypto wallet even earlier than I did.
“So I said, ‘Hey, why don’t you consider entrepreneurship?’ and used myself as an example. On the journey to creating ‘Beasts’, there have been many moments that have brought us together.
“Once I launched and sold a few, my son – who rarely texts me – sent me a message saying how proud he was. And that was priceless. Now, he’s chosen to pursue a master’s in entrepreneurship.”
“Mutual Gaze: A Feast of Pareidolia in the Metaverse” is on show at PMQ Taste Library until August 1 for the public, and until August 14 for Taste Library members.
