Given the chance, Bored Panda reached out to Takayo.
Kiyota explained what initially inspired her to use sushi rolls as a medium for her art, saying, "Because no one else was doing it. There were sushi rolls as a local dish, but if it's made from food, does it have to be limited to food? I had doubts. I thought it would be interesting to be able to draw freely using this method. And I decided to present it to the world as an artistic expression."
When deciding which iconic artworks to reinterpret in sushi form, Kiyota takes a thoughtful approach: "Reinterpreting masterpieces through sushi roll art is part of my work. When creating such a piece, I choose something that fits the message I want to convey. I also sometimes make them upon request. When simply re-expressing a work, I create it while imagining the artist's feelings, as if I were copying."
Describing her process for designing and assembling the sushi rolls, the artist shared with us, "It is not possible to express fine details, and it is not possible to express a three-dimensional effect. However, Japanese paintings up to the Edo period were two-dimensional, such as ukiyo-e, and I like it because it overlaps with Japanese painting techniques by expressing the outline with seaweed. Furthermore, there is a Japanese technique of omitting the design, so it is common to omit details when making sushi rolls."
The challenges of creating edible art, compared to traditional art forms, are significant. Kiyota noted, "Because the pieces are made from fresh materials rather than paper, wood, or canvas, production time is limited. You can't make it for several days because it will mold or rot. Therefore, there is a limit to the size of the work. Additionally, the human brain changes details and subtleties, making it difficult to tell the difference."
The Japanese artist also shared her fondness for certain themes in her work, "I like works that are edible, so you can eat them and not just look at the design on the surface. I also like works that convey messages to the world. Because the works are sexy or have a strong social message, they are not often released. In addition to making sushi roll art, I also like to create pieces that combine with other foods."
Reflecting on the impact of her work, Kiyota said, "When I gift my work to someone, I am also interested in how the recipient interprets it. I think it would be interesting to visualize the story before eating the work and try to match it with the food you usually eat or your favorite accessories. In the workshop, everyone will create a work of primitive man, and have them take a photo and send it in to show how they expressed their world." Through these interactive and creative endeavors, Kiyota continues to push the boundaries of what can be achieved with sushi, turning it into a form of communication and artistic expression that resonates globally.
