Visual artist Sourabh Chouhan and architect Sumessh Menon collaborated on a unique exhibition that made food waste impossible to ignore. Through hyper-realistic food sculptures, forensic-style photos, and a striking socio-economic food pyramid, the show moved over a thousand visitors to pledge more than 6,000 meals for those in need.
- Hyper-real food sculptures replicate abandoned leftover meals
- Forensic photos document unnoticed food waste across India
- Pledge wall helped fund over 6,000 meals for the hungry
What happened
Artists Sourabh Chouhan and Sumessh Menon designed 'Abundance and Absence,' an immersive exhibition aimed at confronting visitors with the scale and reality of food waste. The centerpiece featured life-like sculptures of half-eaten meals created using a Japanese craft traditionally used for restaurant displays. The exhibition also included a photo wall that documented discarded food in various locations around India.
The installations portrayed food waste through multiple sensory experiences, including a socio-economic pyramid built from food items that represented how access to meals diminishes sharply from top to bottom. Visitors interacted with a pledge wall, through which more than 1,200 people committed to providing 6,265 meals, delivered by the Robin Hood Army, an organization focused on feeding the hungry.
Why it feels good
This exhibition offers a fresh way to raise awareness about a critical issue without overwhelming visitors with statistics alone. By transforming food waste into art that is both haunting and beautiful, it created empathy and reflection in a non-judgmental space. The arresting visuals helped bridge the gap between abstract numbers and everyday reality, making the issue personal and urgent.
Importantly, the call to action — a simple pledge wall—gave visitors a tangible way to turn their concern into concrete change. This blend of emotional engagement and practical contribution leaves a hopeful note, showing how creative expression can directly support social good while encouraging mindful consumption.
What to enjoy or watch next
If you’re inspired by how art can illuminate social issues, keep an eye out for similar community-driven projects that use immersive experiences to shape public awareness. Exhibitions that combine sensory storytelling with actionable steps encourage deeper participation and could be models for addressing other challenges like climate change or homelessness.
You might also consider participating in or supporting organizations like the Robin Hood Army, which turns meals and resources into immediate help for people facing hunger. Engaging with local food rescue groups and learning more about reducing personal and community food waste are meaningful next steps to making a difference.