Samsung Electronics West Africa and contemporary art space, Rele Gallery have collaborated to present an unprecedented culinary art and photography exhibition as well as online competition, with the theme ‘What’s Cooking?’
The exhibition featured the works of two prominent photographers, Kelechi Amadi-Obi and Ade Asiko Okelarin, who drew inspiration from Nigerian cuisine created by three leading chefs, Tiyan Alile, Ozoz Sokoh (Kitchen Butterfly) and Dunni Obata (Dooney’s Kitchen). The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Smartphone was used to capture the photographs showcased at the exhibition.
The exhibition was preceded by an online culinary art contest which attracted over 300 entries from across the country and produced three winners who were announced at a private viewing event to mark the beginning of the four-week exhibition at the gallery in Lagos.
The Food Art competition engaged talented Nigerians from all over the country trying their hands at culinary artistry by creating an original work of art using real food in line with the exhibition theme. Entries were uploaded by participants on www.techmeetsart.ng, who also stated what inspired their food art. All entries were judged by a reputable panel of chefs and photographers based on published guidelines.
Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Paul Lee, speaking at the event which took place at Rele Gallery, Onikan, Lagos, said “Technology and art have had an unfamiliar relationship over the years with many people wondering what the nature of this relationship is. Art and technology derive strength and inspiration from one another. Hosting a competition among chefs is logical as cooking is also a form of art. With this novelty, Samsung is rebooting the relationship between art and technology by being a part of exhibitions and initiatives that will foster new collaborations across both disciplines and industries.”
The special culinary delights were brought into focus with the use of Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Smartphone by renowned photographers such as Kelechi Amadi-Obi and Ade Okelarin (Asiko) to capture Nigerian art food created by all three distinguished chefs, Revmatas explained.
“Rele Gallery is committed to changing the way we consume; navigate the world around us, through art. As we’ve come to discover food is much more than something we eat, through this project we highlight that there is an art to cooking and presenting it. For the first time ever, Nigerian cuisine gets to be documented as an art piece, to inspire experimentation and exploration of the possibilities. Technology has once again proved to be an important, reliable partner in establishing this narrative,” stated Adenrele Sonariwo, Founder & Curator, Rele Gallery.
