Today or Tomorrow at Atelier 8.18: A Home Studio Exhibition

In their exhibition Today or Tomorrow, artists Emiko Mizukami, Julie Sabey, Lena Sin and Nicole Lau will take you on a journey of food, its connection to different cultures, people and countries–and how it has different meanings for each of these four artists.

Stepping into Atelier 8.18, curator Kyla Bourgh’s home studio, I immediately feel welcomed into a cozy and intimate space filled with artwork. Rather than a traditional gallery, the exhibition unfolds within the comfort of Brough’s own living room, adding an authentic and relaxed atmosphere. I find myself leisurely enjoying a drink as I explore each piece, appreciating the personal touch and warmth of this setting.

 

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A post shared by Lena Sin (@lenasinart)

Art: Lena Sin @lenasinart

We can see these different interpretations of food through the lens of four different artists with diverse cultural backgrounds, reflected in their unique art pieces. For Lena Sin, it’s about how the table was set, the colours of the food and the decorations surrounding it—and this is immediately apparent in her artwork, which is filled with joyful colours such as the blue water glass, colourful drinks, flowers and plates.

 

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Art: Emiko Mizukami @emikomizukamiart

The artists were inspired by travels to destinations such as Thailand, France, Spain and the Mediterranean. Each piece of art brings together elements of food and colour, encouraging visitors to slow down, enjoy the food with people around them and embrace conversation.

“A lot of the art you see here is inspired by vacations I’ve had—enjoying meals with family and friends, and I’ve taken little moments from each vacation and sort of put them together, so it’s a little bit abstract,” says Sin.

“It’s not like this table was exactly how it was when we were in Spain or the Mediterranean. I was inspired by the colours. One day, while we were having lunch al fresco, I ordered some water—it was very hot—and the waiter brought us two bottles in the most beautiful blue glass. I just thought, ‘Oh my gosh, even the water bottles are beautiful here.'”

 

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Art: Lena Sin @lenasinart

The pieces challenge the viewer to think about food preparation and consumption from a new, joyful lens and how deeply rooted and impacted it is by local traditions such as food preservation, socialization and the impact of environmental objects–such as the blue glass.

From another perspective, the artist Emiko Mizukami invites us to reimagine the meaning behind the culture of preservation, taking us into a fantasy world surrounding the food and the table.

“I’m from Japan. Our culinary culture is centred around preservation, so I thought, ‘Oh, that’s interesting.’ Then I started pulling up memories. My grandma used to make all kinds of preserved food. I didn’t get to learn how, but I watched her do everything. Within that memory, I started to think—yeah, food preserves something. Whether it’s the food itself, its freshness, the story around it, or the things that were never really told—how are those things preserved in silence? And then, how do they actually come out?” says Emiko Mizukami.

“I started collecting images and ideas for my own kind of fantasy story. In my mind, I ask: is that an animal? Is that an actual person? Who is it, really? And then—who are you going to share the meal with? What kind of conversation will unfold at the dinner table? ‘What’s on the dinner table’ has been my theme for a couple of years now. I’ve really been delving into how food connects to memory,” adds Mizukami.

 

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Art: Emiko Mizukami @emikomizukamiart

Julie Sabey’s art, on the other hand, was inspired by the birthday parties of her childhood. Her art pieces have a playfulness and a child-like joy–which reminds me of the first time I had a piece of Polo mint when I was a kid. Can’t forget that first treat!

 

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A post shared by Julie Sabey (@sabeyjart)

Art: Julie Sabey @sabeyjart

On another note, when I looked through Nicole Lau’s artwork, I was fascinated by how the prepackaged foods were transformed into pieces that blend colours and turn the ordinary into something extraordinary.

“We’re all celebrating food today, and so we’re all artists who draw on that theme of food and still life and but we all bring a different perspective,” Sin says.

 

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A post shared by Nicole Lau (@nicolelauartist)

Going through the art pieces, I pictured myself eating in different parts of the world and interacting with different cultures such as Swedish, Japanese and Canadian. My perspective on food gained a deeper meaning and I can’t help but think about the stories behind the dishes we prepare now. It’s not just food—it’s a story, after all.

If you want to discover the impact of different food cultures, traditions, trips and conversations around the world from the lens of these four artists–all in a cozy home studio–you’ll have to visit Atelier 8.18.

Address: 8 East 18th Avenue
Price: Free
Learn more from Atelier 8.18’s Instagram page.