The Beauty of Food Redistribution
‘The Beauty of Food Redistribution’ is an innovative and thought-provoking exhibition that intertwines art, technology, and social activism to highlight the importance and impact of food redistribution. Curated by head of communications, Fiona Hollis, at food charity, City Harvest.
Using data sets of City Harvest’s monthly food rescue, delivery and the SROI on their services, the food report artwork was created. Artist, Yanis Georges, used these data sets to create visual representations of the charity’s work. The animation shows their monthly impact, and the series of stills come alive with AR. The stunning stills are derivitives of the 3D animation.
This animation is part of a 2m tall installation. The pop-up exhibition can be hosted any venue & provides a unique way to interact with the impact of the charity’s work via AR Augmented Reality & AI.
Above: ‘The Harmonious Rhythm of Generosity’ Yanis Georges, is a 3D particle animation showing integral strands green shooting out from the centre of an empty space. Each strand creates yellow balls, which in turn create ripples of pink balls, until the teeming space is almost full. The animation loops, representing the social impact of a month’s work from City Harvest, food charity.
The green strands are the number of City Harvest van deliveries – collecting and rescuing food.
The yellow balls are food deliveries made each month.
The pink ripples from the yellow food deliveries show the positive social impact food has on society. Food provides essential nourishment for physical and mental health, better attainment at school, the better job prospects, the reduced crime. The social return on investment SROI – as corroborated by Bain & Co. provided the data for this project.
However, as the animation shows, nothing last forever. As the pink and yellow disappear, the cycle starts again.
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OXO Brasserie, London SE1
Southwark cathedral 4 – 14 Oct 2024
The key art theories and concepts behind the exhibition:
Integration of Technology and Art
The exhibition employs cutting-edge technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and 3D particle animation to create an immersive and interactive experience. This technological integration allows visitors to engage with the artwork in a dynamic way, bringing the data and impact of City Harvest’s work to life. The use of AR and AI in the artwork by Yanis Georges, for instance, transforms static images into animated representations of the charity’s social impact, making the invisible visible and the abstract tangible.
Community and Connection
The exhibition also emphasizes the importance of community and the connections fostered through food redistribution. The artworks capture the relationships between City Harvest and the communities they serve, particularly highlighting the impact on school children and vulnerable populations. This focus on community underscores the idea that food redistribution is not just about preventing waste but also about building stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities.
Circularity and the Cycle of Life
One of the central themes of the exhibition is the idea of circularity and the cycle of life. This concept is vividly depicted through Nacoca Ko’s series of six images, which emphasize the robustness and beauty of life’s cycles. The artwork illustrates how food redistribution not only prevents waste but also fosters new cycles of health and community well-being. This cyclical perspective underscores the interconnectedness of all life forms and the importance of sustainable practices in nurturing both people and the planet.
Art as Activism
Finally, the exhibition embodies the concept of art as a form of activism. By using art to raise awareness and provoke thought, City Harvest aims to inspire action and drive change. The exhibition is designed to be modular and roaming, allowing it to reach diverse audiences and create conversations about the importance of food redistribution. This approach leverages the power of art to engage, educate, and mobilize people around critical social and environmental issues.
This multifaceted exhibition combines art, technology, and social impact to highlight the importance of sustainable food practices and the profound benefits of food redistribution. Through its innovative use of AR and AI, and emphasis on community, the exhibition enagages people, mesmerizes people with the beauty of what they are seeing.
The exhibition has three different modules, discover more about each artist seperately. Yanis Georges, Nacoca Ko, Oscar J Ryan.