Meat - Too Much?

Through much of British history or Western history in general, human subjugation of the “wild” natural world has been a central theme - almost a religious imperative. We define meat as the flesh of animals destined for our consumption. Until the fourteenth century, “meat” could mean any form of nourishment. Over time, usage of the term reduced in scope to mean animal food or so-called red meats. At times “meat” has been thought to be the only “real” food. Bourdieu (1977) describes meat eating as “habitus” - it is a behavior unquestioned by most people. 

Any study of food habits must recognize that food selection is imbued with social rules and meaning, and it is clear from the extent of its association with cultural rituals, both religious and secular, that it is a medium rich in social meaning reflecting among other things, significant power relationships.”

Excerpted from, “Meat, a natural symbol” by Nick Fiddes (1991)

Artists inspired by Meat.

Meat has long been an inspiration for many artists, for some it has become the medium.

 

Armchair, Simone Rachell.

Water Closet, Simone Rachell.

Hair Dryer, Simone Rachell.

 Reindeer in the Snow, Victoria Reynolds, oil paint (meat as inspiration)

21 Chops, David Raymond. Photograph

Animatronic Flesh Shoe, Adam Brandejs. Photograph

Untitled , photograph, Pinar Yolacan,

Uses meat and poultry to accessorize her sitters.

Hommage a Meret Oppenheim, Betty Hirst

Meat Dress, Jana Sterbak

Helga Petrau-Heinzel

Helga turns marzipan into edible pieces of the human anatomy, this series focuses on vital organs.