The edible art of Risa Hirai

by Johnny on February 20, 2013

garden-bonsai (2013) | images courtesy Gallery Tokyo Humanite

if the smell of freshly-baked cookies doesn’t get people into galleries, I don’t know what will

garden-bonsai (detail)

Risa Hirai is a senior at Tama Art University who makes miniature models of food and bonsai gardens. Except, instead of paint and brushes, which you might expect from a student majoring in oil painting, she uses sugar, flour, butter and oil. And of course, her oven which, around exhibition time, must get very, very hot.

Hirai uses the same ingredients that go into cookies, to make her art. “I want people to experience my work with all their senses,” says Hirai. “I want them to see it, smell it and then eat it.” Indeed, if the smell of freshly-baked cookies doesn’t get people into galleries, I don’t know what will.

For what will be the very first exhibition of her career, Hirai’s work will be on display at Gallery Tokyo Humanite from March 11 -16.

sukiyaki cookie (s011)