The Urbanophagic Gaze Constructing an urbanophagic project requires a new way of looking, an urbanophagic gaze that considers the multi-sensory and narrative qualities of one's surroundings and draws on knowledge of food and food history to conceive of edible equivalents. Upon accepting an urbanophagy project, Ali&Cia begin to research the area carefully and from multiple angles in order to perceive the various narratives, symbolism and subtexts to draw upon in their interpretation. In addition, as the participation of local chefs in the creation of the work is central, an important part of the process is sharing the urbanophagic vision with others. Ali&Cia hold workshops with the collaborating chefs to explain the ideas behind the work and encourage their urbanophagic gaze. Alicia states that the role of Ali&Cia is: ...to propitiate the catharsis of their collective subconscious, to nourish their inspiration so that they are able to change their frame of mind, adopt a new paradigm, get in tune with their culinary wisdom, experiences, memories, nostalgias and start getting into a new contact, perceiving their environment, their urban horizon, their vitality in terms of its newly discovered sensory, textural, olfactory, aromatic, haptic counterpart. Encouraged to see things, physical, external things, from the perspective of their, up to then, ignored sensory qualities: buildings, parks, transport, vehicles, human beings and other living creatures, perceived as just rough, satin, smooth, cold, warm, savoury, sweet, acidic, blue, hot, red, yellow, brown, piquant, poignant, tender substances from which, after manipulating and cooking the appropriate ingredients, the map of your town is built to scale and in three dimensions. Lots of decisions must be taken, implying that as much as understanding the town in the new code of its edibility, the participants were expected to understand and use the ingredients they were familiar with, involving in such understanding all the emotional and symbolic cultural values accumulated over generations. |