Friday, May 20, 2011

Walking on eggshells: The food artist who captures the daily grind in miniature

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


In life, you've got to break a few eggs: The miniature people appear to be investigating what is down the hole


It is the daily grind of life captured in magnificent detail - with one or two slight differences.

American artist Christopher Boffoli has spent three years capturing these everyday scenes using only supplies from the grocery store and a tiny plastic figures.

Each scene is meticulously planned by Boffoli before being painstakingly assembled in his home studio - sometimes taking hours to complete.


What a job! A man wipes mustard off a hot dog in another of Mr Boffoli's exquisite pieces


The food has to be cut and arranged before the figures can be placed on them using either a clear adhesive such as agave nectar or by piercing holes with a toothpick and placing the models into them.

Boffoli began shooting the project, which he calls 'Disparity', in 2007.

Boffoli said: 'It takes a lot of patience to make these tiny scenes as the figures are prone to falling over after they are set. It can take up to 25 attempts to get the perfect shot.

'I have always been interested in size disparity and a juxtaposition of scales between people and things ever since I owned a tiny model train world as a kid.'


Out on the lawn: A man cuts the grass on some broccoli


Creative: Mr Boffoli uses icing to create the illusion of two men wading through deep snow


'There is in some part a god-like feeling to having command of an entire world, which you can rearrange at any capricious whim. I often make a special trip to the grocery store or speciality bake shop for a shoot,' he said.

'And I have to be extra selective in choosing food that looks good. But I particularly like working with patisserie because I can nibble on the leftovers after the shoot.'

Boffoli, who has toured his Disparity collection in galleries throughout the USA, added: 'Coming up with an interesting image is only half the battle - a caption that will make people smile is also a big part of my work.'

The series of images is inspired by Walter martin and Paloma Munoz's 'Travellers' - in which the artists placed small figurines in disturbing scenes inside snow globes.

The American photojournalist, who has been taking pictures since he first received a camera in 1985 as a birthday gift, captured the shots on his Canon 5D Mark II.


Gone bananas: Mr Boffoli explains how his work requires enormous patience as the sets are prone to falling apart


Hours of work: Even the tiny man's clothes are finished to the highest standard of quality

source: dailymail