Food for Thought?

Photo by Judith G. Klausner

Personally, I believe that art, as a form of self-expression is representative of a particular culture or society. Anything can be considered art as long as it has some meaning to it. An Oreo will always just be an Oreo – even with cameo portraits carved onto the fillings – unless it is given a deeper meaning or purpose by the artist. In this case, the Oreo along with the other materials used in the From Scratch series by Judith G. Klausner gives us further insight to the modern American society.

From Scratch is a series of artwork by Judith G. Klausner made up of detailed Victorian-styled cameo portraits carved out of Oreo cream, hand-cross-stitched Chex cereal and extensive bread embroidery. Her choice of materials are designed to address the gender issues within American culture.

The photo above is an example of how Klausner uses ordinary, packaged food and turns it into some thought-provoking piece of artwork. When more and more people are criticizing processed foods, Klausner defends it with the reason that they provide women with a choice to pursue a career outside of the household. In other words, her art commends the role of processed food in helping women break away from traditional gender roles.

The availability of processed food has undoubtedly made life easier for women who are struggling to juggle a full-time job as well as other household responsibilities. Although packaged food may not be the best choice health wise, Klausner makes a fair point to defend her art, saying,

“The food on our table may not be as tasty as it once was. It may not even be as wholesome. But it is important to take a step back and recognize the trade that has been made, and that what we have gained is not to be undervalued”

She urges us not to overlook the benefits offered by packaged food and how it has given so many women in America a chance for a life they wouldn’t have had fifty or sixty years ago. But is this a reasonable trade? Is it justifiable for us to sacrifice health for a career?

Judith Klausner’s use of Oreos, gummy candies, Chex cereals, ketchup and barbeque sauce to create her art positively illustrates these overly processed food. She takes the food that we perceive as fake and commercialized and turns it into something amazing. Her work inspires us to rethink our preconceived ideas of the role that processed food plays in our everyday lives. It is interesting to see how something so commercialized and overlooked by the majority can be employed as a positive social commentary. Art gives us the chance to look at something from a different point of view.

In the past, Klausner worked with insects and fingernails as well as other materials that would freak out the general public. With From Scratch, she now has a more widely acceptable art form, making it easier to spread her message. As she said in a recent interview with DigBoston.com, “One of the interesting parts about working with food is that it’s a much more relatable material. What I was going for was to help someone look at something differently.”