The work of Carl Warner captures international holiday scenes in food-forged art works.
During the Christmas season, it's OK for a man to embrace a little lighthearted holiday imagery. And, evidently, it's OK for some men to play with their good.
Liverpool-born artist, Carl Warner earns a living creating real life Candyland scenes. From a pineapple replica of the Great Wall of China, to Mayan temples made from peppers, villages made entirely of bread, and pasta islands, Warner’s foodscapes are vivid and vibrant.
Warner fell into the foodie side of photography by accident. After attending art school, he found success as an ad photographer. By the 1980s, work was slowing down and Warner found himself in search of greater creative fulfillment. A chance walk through a food market provided just the inspiration.
Shrub-like Portobello mushrooms caught Warner’s eye, so he bought a few, along with rice seeds and beans. Back in his studio, he built a miniature Mushroom Savannah scene. Warner’s unusual, eye-candy foodscapes brought him back in favor with the ad world, winning him commissions for food-based ad campaigns.
From his studio in London, Warner begins by drawing his ideas on paper, before buying the produce and spending up to three days assembling his food scenes using pins and glue. Each element is constructed and photographed before Warner moves on to the next area, to avoid food spoiling. At the end of the process, pictures are woven together in post-production to create the final image.
Warner’s images of smoked salmon seas, ice cream cone castles and chocolate stream trains are on show at Ripley’s Believe it or Not in London through January 8th. The exhibit includes Crockerville, a Christmas-themed display made of more than 2,000 cookies, and a chocolate rocky road, as well as iconic landmarks like St. Paul’s and Tower Bridge, all made from fruit and vegetables.
For critics who worry about Warner wasting food, his work is being used in hospitals and schools to educate children about healthy eating.
fabdays.blogspot.com Edible Art by Carl Warner Arrives for Int’l Holidays