Bento

Exhibition Title: Bento
Artist: Tomoni Shintaku
Term: February 4 to February 9, 2025 / 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm *Open throughout the exhibition
Opening Reception: Saturday, February 8, 6 pm – 9 pm
*plan to hold a workshop where participants can enjoy making Japanese DIY candy kits.
Admission fee: Free
Venue: DE BOUWPUT Ferdinand Huyckstraat 74, 1061 HW Amsterdam, The Netherlands 

Exhibition Concept:
I graduated from a Japanese art university in 2005 and completed culinary school in 2013, earning my chef certification. Since then, I have been creating works centered around the theme of food.

This exhibition is primarily composed of my signature series, "BENTO." Initially, this series began as an attempt to blend the unique Japanese bento culture with the philosophies of Zen and minimalism. However, over time, it has come to emphasize documentary and archival aspects, evolving into a long-term project spanning ten years. As of 2025, the project is in its fourth year, producing one piece per month, totaling 120 works. This ongoing creation process reflects the passage of time and the changing meaning of the works.

Bento is intimately connected to daily life. From the perspective of food, it represents human existence itself. Ultimately, humans live to eat. This unbroken activity from birth to death is characterized by its endless repetition, day after day, without boredom. Most people forget that the act of living is intrinsically monotonous. This is why I believe the Bento series should be pursued steadily over the long term.

While sourcing ingredients from supermarkets in the Netherlands, Japan, and various other countries, I become keenly aware of cultural differences and economic shifts like inflation. The receipts for the ingredients are not mere records but can serve as documents reflecting the changing times. By noting current events in the margins of recipes, I encourage viewers to recall past occurrences and consider them in contrast with the present.

Through this exhibition, "BENTO," I hope that both I, as the artist, and the viewers can feel the weight of being swept up in the tides of our era.