Cooking As A Form Of Visual Art?

I know some artists make art from toast. That might be an option. http://www.mrbreakfast.com/breakfast/?p=1117

Cappuccino foam art is pretty popular, too. Any others?

Well there are a lot of culinary shows on TV are there not, looks visual to me? And a Chef would tell you, cooking is his/her art. Do you know a chef? Maybe they would be willing to give their point of view on the visual of culinary skill.

yes, if you go to some high end restaurants and see how they present each plate with colors and forms it is visual art. same with cakes and pastries. I know some art school graduates went into cake making.

How about something like this: http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/msa_culinary_arts_academy_of_istanbul_eggplant

April, I found this:

"If you look at the creative part of cooking where either an individual chooses a selection of ingredients and cooking methods to create a desired end result, it is more of an art. This is similar to the artist using paint color and technique to create a painting or a writer doing the same with words and grammar. Both the painter and the writer are using tools to *create* not recreate and the result is subjectively successful - the great chefs, painters and writers are deemed to be great because they create something others love and admire."

chefs had to go school to learn fruit, ice carving , for me this is art as well.

Okay, so the response I got from her is that her son doesn't want to make art out of food, he just wants to prove that the way that it is prepared and displayed is a form of visual art. So, I think you're right, Sydne. She should probably ask a chef, or, as Alfred eluded to, a cake maker/decorator. (That fruit carving is amazing, BTW.)

Jean, those ads are awesome.

Cynthia, that quote is perfect. Do you know the source?

April - how about making an artistic version of some more common things - like eggs made to look like mice
http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608041690215025251&w=250&h=183&c=7&rs=1&qlt=90&o=4&pid=1.7
http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?&id=HN.607986839187883969&w=300&h=300&c=0&pid=1.9&rs=0&p=0

or just google what can be done with radishes into roses, or lots of vegetables that can be turned into fun creations -
http://www.funxone.com/files/2010/05/very-originative-vegetable-Art-6.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a35yd743VVc/UErCHzJivpI/AAAAAAAADoc/hUtpX2azV9M/s1600/Vegetable_Art_05.jpg

I am sure youtube is loaded with 'how to' videos to give him ideas -

Andrea, I think those ideas are great, and that's the kind of thing I thought of when she asked me, but now it sounds like he doesn't want to make the food into art, he just wants to be able to defend the position that the food he prepares is visually artistic. I'm waiting for her reply though. We shall see what she has to say about it.

The quote was a user response to a question on yahoo. I don't think you'd need to attribute it. Just have your friend put it in her own words.

Maybe he just wants to prove that plating is an art form... http://design-milk.com/art-plating/

Thanks, Cynthia. I'll let her know.

April,

On my old site, I have some nice food shots, from some pretty famous chefs. maybe he can get some ideas from them.

http://www.richfrancophotography.com/index2.php#/rgallery/6/

as mentioned, the presentation of the food, is a skill that is very visual and needs and meets the guidelines of any "ART" piece, composition, color contrast, shape and eye appeal. ALL these need to be at their very best, to complete the meal, not just the taste,etc.

Rich

If he doesn't want to do theater in front of people, he can be behind the scenes. They need people who can create backgrounds, paint, etc. My nephew is doing that and loves it.

Thanks, Rich! I'll send her the link.

Brian, he used to do theater with my son, but he was never really into it. He just did it because his mom was the choreographer. Theater is her life, him, not so much. He'd much rather be playing sports.

April, the title Culinary Arts and it's definition should be more than enough to convince even the most skeptical. I do a good amount of cooking and cooking is certainly an art. Cooking is certainly a visual art and there are whole industries which do nothing more than photograph foods and their presentations. Honestly I don't get the teachers position on this.

Lots of the competitions with sugar create 3D masterpieces that are more like sculpture than food. They aren't eaten, just created as centerpieces.

How about those elaborate gingerbread houses?

April, I would send your son to school with a half dozen raw eggs and a large circular flat plate. I would then instruct him to crack the raw eggs for the teacher in this manner. First crack two to make a set of eyes, second crack one where the nose should go, and finally crack the remaining 3 eggs in the shape of a smile. Then ask the teacher what she thinks of his smiley face and if that's not art I don't know what is.

Mario, I agree with you. I definitely think it's a visual art form, too. But it's not my son's teacher, it's my friend's son's teacher that needs convincing. My son would gladly get up in front of the class and make a fool of himself, and he loves art and music as well. He's not shy in the least.

Edward, good point about the gingerbread houses. I forgot about those!

ETA: Sounds like they are going with the art of plating angle, so I'll go ahead and close this out. Thanks, everyone!