Searching #yummy
Graphic designer Gilbert Li, whose mouth-watering Instagram feed is exhibiting in I AM HERE, spills the beans on his favourite social media accounts for food inspiration.
Gilbert Li photographing pierogies at Veselka, NYC, 2019 (taken by Alina Skyson)
Before people begin indulging in their food, more often than not, their phones get the first look. Documenting what you are about to eat is common for many people nowadays as #foodie culture has caused a storm. Human fascination with food has always been present. From still life drawings to a Campbell’s soup can, food has been a subject of art for centuries. It can evoke emotions, spark nostalgia, tell a story and create a memory. With the current age of social media, digital feeds of food images and videos dominate screens and have become a part of many peoples’ self-identities. It’s no wonder when you search the hashtag #food on Instagram, over 428 million posts come up. The more we feed into it, the more it is fed back to us. And in the newly opened AGO exhibition I AM HERE: Home Movies and Everyday Masterpieces, our obsession with food is explored.
In a section of the exhibition titled Food, Glorious Food, visitors will see home movie footage of food, drawings of people eating and close-up food photography. On a screen, you will find a digital live feed of an Instagram account by Toronto-based graphic designer Gilbert Li (@gilbert_li). Appearing on the screen is a revolving reel of mouth-watering food dishes documented by Li since 2017 using the hashtag #gilberteatsto.
“Food is something I get immense pleasure from. So when casually photographing things, documenting what I eat has always been a natural subject. But back in 2008, before Instagram started, I was introduced to the work of artist Dean Baldwin Lew (@deanbaldwinlew) when I was the art director of a book series called Alphabet City. In a volume about food we featured Dean’s photo series in which he photographed everything he ate for one year. At the time, documenting something in this serialized visual way was new to me. I was drawn to how matter-of-fact the photographs were and how I could get a sense of him through what he ate and the vicarious pleasure it provided. Then years later to see how social media spurred so many people to do exactly the same on such a large-scale has been incredible. Obviously, food has wide appeal. But it’s the learning and exchange of culture through food that interests me. And this was the inspiration to start sharing what I eat regularly. Hoping that others learn about and try new things and places to eat.” (Gilbert Li, 2022)
Intrigued to learn more, we asked Li to name his favourite food accounts on Instagram. Here’s what he had to say:
#Food Bloggers
@where.there.toronto
“Just one of many local accounts I follow to keep up-to-date with the Toronto food scene. I appreciate when people post about more casual and everyday meals like she does.”
@karonliu
“Karon Liu is a Toronto Star journalist who often covers the kind of small family-run restaurants that I particularly love. I like how he includes the story and cultural context of the people behind the food.”
#Food Creatives
@chichi_photo
“Vicky Lam is a Toronto-based commercial photographer who specializes in food stilllife. Her photos have a graphic and poppy-like feel that always catch my eye. My design studio has had the pleasure of working with her many times."
@christinaglihaillustration
“Christina Gliha is a Toronto-based illustrator. Food and restaurant exteriors are frequent subjects she beautifully depicts. Often they transport me in a dream-like way.”
#Food Culture
@movie.kitchens
“Nicely selected stills featuring the most important room.”
@adventuresinjelly
“Mesmerizing videos of jelly jiggling by an avid jelly mould collector.”
Open now through August 2022, visit I AM HERE: Home Movies and Everyday Masterpieces to indulge in a medley of artworks and personal artifacts themed around our favourite fascinations – from food to homes, cars and celebrities. See #yummy by Gilbert Li on our gallery wall in-person or visit his Instagram page.
Sign up to AGOinsider to catch behind-the-scenes insights on our exhibitions and to keep up-to-date with the latest news in art and culture.
