Raw food often gets a raw deal. OK, fair enough sushi has developed a fair few millions western fans in the last decade or so, but in general, raw food is seen by many of us as less exciting than its cooked or chilled brethren. The Dutch design studio Lernert & Sander, however, have found the beauty in it, and have amplified that beauty in a remarkable photograph commissioned by the Dutch newspaper “De Volskrant,” for their culinary documentary photography special.
This surreal photo from Dutch design studio Lernert & Sander consists of 98 isometrically arranged pieces of raw food
The photo consists of 98 isometrically arranged pieces of raw food, with the results coming across like an incredibly obsessive taster menu from a bizarre science fiction movie. What makes the arrangement even more fascinating, is that each piece of food has been transformed into a perfect 2.5cm cubes!
Studio founders Englebert Lernert and Sander Plug said of the unique project: “We wanted photograph them in isometric perspective, as we love that everything in this perspective is equally important.” To achieve the desired effect, they “Photographed the cubes in rows, from front to back and composited the rows into one complete image," all without using even a hint of CGI trickery or photoshop. So how did they make the cubes look so perfect and so damn appetising? Lernert said: “We kept away from Photoshop as much as possible after the compositing, so to get it out in the air: all cubes are real.”
The perfect 2.5cm cubes were cut using a tool designed specifically for the project by the artist's personal carpenter
The artists, who started collaborating on art-related projects in 2007, explain that the cubes were cut using a tool designed specifically for the project by their personal carpenter, something like a modified Mandolin slicer. Each cube was cut over the course of a five-day shoot. They add, however, that: “If you look really closely at the picture, you will see they aren’t perfect cubes after all, as they all have tiny imperfections. The food looks great because is was cut just before we took the photo. The cubes are all radiating from the fresh cut.”
Englebert Lernert and Sander Plug
The photo is available as a limited edition print of 50 copies signed by the artists for about €500, but personally, I'm more content to simply admire the photo from the comfort (and freedom) of my tablet. For those amongst you who are feeling particularly masochistic, I've included below a list of all 98 raw foods included in the piece. If you have the patience to match the food to its corresponding cube then you have far more patience than me!
Orange, Pear, Cabbage, Carrot, Zucchini, Tomato, Avocado, Red snapper, Salmon, Kiwi, Pork rind, Chicken, Cauliflower, Honeydew melon, Lime, Pomegranate, Garlic, Purple cauliflower, Banana, Pork belly, Kiwi, Squash, Blood orange, Corn, Watermelon, Winter squash, Watermelon, Pineapple, Endive, Pumpkin, Dragon fruit, Rainbow trout, Apple, Iceberg lettuce, Grapefruit, Beef liver, White onion, Winter melon, Coconut, Pomelo, Taro root, Red onion, Jicama, Mackerel, Leek, Butternut squash, Dragon fruit, Persimmon, Cucumber, Button mushroom, Heart of palm, Mahi mahi, Red pepper, Beef, Chicken, Sweet potato, Orange pepper, Brook trout, Green papaya, Apple, Purple potato, Oyster mushroom, Star fruit, Potato, Portabella, Mushroom, Casaba, Melon, Lemon, Carrot, Lime, Radish, Celery root, Yellow carrot, Slaw cabbage, Yellow beet, Broccoli, Cantaloupe, Cabbage, Snapper, Swordfish, Eggplant, Kingfish, Cabbage, Green pepper, Beet, Tuna, Cauliflower, Papaya, Romanesco broccoli, White beet, Rainbow beet, Cauliflower, Mushroom, Yellow pepper, Ginger, Starfruit, Beef, Mango
Good luck!
Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and struggling musician from Kidderminster in the UK.
