Alexis Castaneda
Culinary Exploration
Artist Information and Statement
Alexis Mariah Castaneda
BFA Candidate
In this series, the illustrations are tailored and set to convey the undeniable differences that define people through food. Furthermore, the purpose is to spread awareness of the historically abundant aspects of culture through traditional and well-known cuisines. As a society we taste, eat, smell, and delight in partaking in the consummation of these outstanding traditional or homemade meals. These illustrations shed some light on the importance of food and its long journey to this modern era.
Through time, people do not question where these culinary combinations originated from, instead but looked at the great chefs who prepared the dishes. These illustrations’ focus is to continue asking the same questions: where, when, who and why? The reason why we need to continue asking these questions is to rediscover these gastronomical fares as each dish has a story that needs to be told. While illustrating the French piece it tells a story, which is connected to the Austrian war, the very French croissant we eat for breakfast. The Peruvian Pachamanca a well-known Peruvian dish tells the story of the most notorious Incan empire to have lived in the Americas dating back to 1400 CE. As mentioned, each dish has a story, and behind the one-story is one long culinary expedition that deserves to be explored.
This series serves as such; a visual conduit of the wonders and delights we eat arranged in the visuals and in words.