The Meaning Of Life In Your Kitchen |
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An insect-o-cutor is one piece of kitchen equipment that you would not expect to be endorsed by a celebrity Buddhist such as his holiness the Dali Lama. Its function is to destroy insects in the name of health and safety and with claims of the killing grid being clog resistant, it sounds like a cog in a war machine. On the flip-side, an insect destroyer is a very useful tool for eliminating pesky pests from the kitchen and it has had some sort of celebrity endorsement and press coverage in a very unusual way. A Thousand Years is an artwork by Damien Hurst and features a severed cow's head, an insect destroyer and the cycle of life acted out by some very talented flies. Maybe they are the star of the show, not Damien. In this piece, maggots hatch in a white box, emerge as flies which then feed on the cow's head before meeting a violent end on a clog resistant killing grid. Some flies do escape this fate, and continue the cycle of life by producing more maggots, which then turn to flies, which feed on.... you get the picture. Although the insect destroyer may be condemned by Buddhists for causing unnecessary deaths, surely they would appreciate the simple representation of the life cycle being presented to us western minded people. The piece not only represents the cycle of life, but issues of war and famine as part of that cycle too. The insect-o-cutor is the random intervention by man that causes the end of a life and the cow's head will eventually be depleted, and there will be no sustenance for the flies, which will eventually die; a finite sculpture depicting an infinite cycle. It takes quite a leap of the imagination to unite the goings on of the catering world with art and religion, but the associations are closer than you think. A culinary genius uses creativity and flair to turn raw ingredients into a mouth watering feast; much like an artist using the basic tools of canvas, wood, brush, paste and pigment to create an awe inspiring masterpiece of a painting. In the same breath, the chef is using this creativity to sustain a part of the cycle of life by providing food, an essential part of survival, the universe, and everything that religious teachings aim to convey. I think it is important that we understand that concept when we eat a succulent steak at a restaurant, and be hugely grateful that the chef has acted as guardian to that steak, defending our dinner from an insect onslaught. Maybe the work of Mr Hirst has been underestimated in its potential in promoting world peace and a healthy respect for what we eat. It is possible that with the help of the Dalai Lama this work could translate the essence of life to millions and instil a sense of humanity while it is at it. Whatever the potential, I think it is fair to acknowledge that small parts are important in the bigger picture. The humble Insect destroyer may be a health and safety necessity to some; but to me, it's inspiration to cook up a dish fit for deities.
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