2 October 2024 – 16 February 2025
LONDON, July 31,
2024 /PRNewswire/ --
- A UK-first exhibition looking at this highly-skilled craft
unique to Japan with over 100
years of history
- Food replicas are hyper realistic, often indistinguishable from
the real thing
- The exhibition features newly commissioned works, including 47
replica specialities – one for every prefecture of Japan
- Food replicas are increasingly used in educational settings,
and visitors will see models that visualise certain diets and even
some used in medical education
- There will be an interactive section where guests can build
their own bento box using a selection of replicas. These creations
can then be shared on social media
- The exhibition will be complemented by a rich programme of
events, including cooking and craft workshops
- Visitors will be able to buy a selection of food sample
products from the Shop to take home
Diners in Japan will often be
tempted into one of the country's 1.4 million restaurants by
remarkably convincing three-dimensional recreations of available
dishes, typically displayed in a glass case outside. Some of these
food replicas are so realistic that it's hard to believe that you
couldn't eat them.
This autumn, Japan House London presents Looks
Delicious!, a mouth-watering journey through the uniquely
Japanese phenomenon of sampuru (from the word 'sample'),
offering UK audiences a rare opportunity to see these skilful
creations up close and appreciate their artistry. There has never
been an exhibition fully dedicated to Japanese food replicas in the
UK before.
The practice of creating food replicas began in the early
20th century, when they introduced many Japanese people
to new kinds of cuisine, particularly yōshoku (lit. 'western
food'). From the 1920s, department stores in Tokyo, Kyoto,
Osaka and beyond began to
regularly use food replicas to showcase their menus, in particular
less familiar Chinese and European dishes. The trend spread
quickly, and today the models are ubiquitous across Japan, although rarely seen outside of the
country.
For this exhibition, world-leading food replica
manufacturer, Iwasaki, has been commissioned to create 47 brand new
food samples, representing each of Japan's prefectures. Dishes range from goya
chanpuru (bitter melon stir fry) from Okinawa to the famous abundant seafood from
the northern seas of Hokkaido. As
well as this presentation of regional cuisine, the exhibition
explores the history of food replica culture, the creation process,
including the materials and techniques used in their production,
how food models are an integral part of nutritional education and
some alternative and future uses of food samples in Japan. Videos, maps and detailed diagrams will
bring the art-form to life in a way that has never been seen
before.
Historically made from candle wax and now frequently created
using PVC, the process is incredibly bespoke, with each item being
made to order for individual restaurants. Now having evolved beyond
menu promotion, the process has become its own form of cultural
expression in Japan, and food
replicas can be found on goods from keyrings to phone cases, some
of which will be stocked at the Shop at Japan House London.
An interactive area encourages visitors to create their own
bento box of replica food that they can capture and share on social
media. The exhibition will also be complemented by a varied events
programme, including workshops where audiences can make their own
food samples as well as craft and cookery demonstrations and talks
about Japanese cuisine.
Exhibition Curator Simon
Wright, Director of Programming at Japan House,
said:
"Colourful food replicas found outside restaurants, in cities
such as Tokyo and Osaka, often appear on the camera rolls of
many visitors to Japan.
Irresistibly intriguing, hyper realistic and painstakingly
hand-crafted, this exhibition is the first of its kind in the UK to
explore in depth the artistry of Japan's food replicas, their manufacture and
their uses, with perhaps some interesting surprises."
Japan House London is collaborating with Iwasaki Groups in
Toyko, Osaka and Gujo Hachiman,
Gifu, to create the designs. This exhibition has been made possible
thanks to support from the Japan House London Trust.
Notes to Editors
About Japan House London
Japan House London is a cultural destination offering the best
and latest from Japan. Located on
Kensington High Street, the experience is an authentic encounter
with Japan, engaging and
surprising even the most knowledgeable guests. Presenting the very
best of Japanese art, design, gastronomy, innovation, and
technology, it deepens the visitor's appreciation of all that
Japan has to offer. Part of a
global initiative, there are two other Japan Houses, one in
Los Angeles and the other in São
Paulo.
Images can be downloaded here. Please note that these are
images of food samples in general, and not the ones that will be
featured in the exhibition.
www.japanhouselondon.uk
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