______SCAPE, composed in 2021, was commissioned by Maggie Shen F. J. as part of her Food-Landscape project. The exhibit ran from 11/13/2021to 01/28/2022 at Athenaeum Art Center in San Diego, California. Performances were presented on 10/12/2021 and 01/18&25/2022.

Artist statement:

Food-Landscape is an art project that uses food as a mindfulness agent to reconnect people with their senses directly. In the current exhibit, ___SCAPE, I propose a visual platform inspired by our county, representing San Diego's five topographic and climate regions: Beach (Coastal Prairie), Coastal, Inland, Mountain, and Desert. The exhibit showcases each region's distinct flavors in separate zones or "islands."  ___SCAPE depicts the physical aspects of San Diego’s topographic zones, including the sea and the sky, and food is the primary vehicle. 

I designed the entire project to go beyond visual expression and to bring regional landscape experiences to all our senses. To do so, I treat food as abstract sculptures meant to be held, smelled, and tasted communally. However, the idea of sharing food changed with the pandemic, which prompted me to expand my vision for the project. I began to consider another layer of food consumption - media. I am currently developing an augmented reality (AR) application to explore our society's new normal. In designing the application, I am thinking about how best to introduce children to the roots of science and technology. No matter the audience, I believe the best way to portray the connection between science and human life is through artful mindfulness, which allows us to feel and to create.

- Maggie Shen F. J.

www.maggieshen.com/foodlandscape-project