In Kitchen Studio, Brisbane-based visual artist Elizabeth Willing orchestrates a sensory symphony that challenges conventional boundaries.
The work takes over Metro Arts galleries this September as part of Brisbane Festival – offering an opportunity for patrons to experience hosted activities… and ‘eat’ art!
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EXHIBITION…
Elizabeth Willing (EW): Kitchen Studio is an artist restaurant, open to viewers during the day, and host to sensory performances in the evenings. The performance proposes uncommon ways to explore edible materials while considering the nuances of food technology and digestion.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS AN ARTIST?
EW: I am a sculptor and a performer, often working between the two, but I do not hesitate to pick up any material or process that I think is necessary to convey a particular idea. I work in the gallery to create exhibitions and installations, but I am also deeply committed to using the dining table as a stage for intimate multisensory performances.
For the last 15 years I have been making art between the kitchen and studio, exploring themes of food, dining, hospitality, sensory perception, agriculture, and digestion.
WHO INSPIRES YOU AND WHY?
EW: I admire creatives who consider the audience in a sophisticated and empathetic way, this is an underrated skill. I am also inspired by the practices of chefs and scientists, and especially those who are working at the intersection of these industries. Not only do I feel that there are parallels with artmaking, but I also find inspiration in the innovations and technologies of those fields.
HOW DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR LOVE FOR VISUAL ARTS?
EW: My parents demonstrated creativity and encouraged it. I grew up making things, amassing collections of materials, and problem solving their assembly, gradually those things became more complex. I don’t know if I have ever felt a love for the visual arts, but I would describe it as an obsession, commitment and sympathy.
Catch Kitchen Studio in the Metro Arts Galleries 6 SEP – 27 OCT, West Village, West End.
Click here to find out more.
