Chemical Beings

"Your food in America is abnormal.", my friend commented as she ate her salad. "How so?", I asked. "Well, for example, the cucumbers in America are huge in comparison to the cucumbers in Japan. It's not normal! I feel like I'm eating a science project."

She’s not wrong. I pulled a gigantic bell pepper out of the fridge the other day that seemed 3 sizes too big. It was pretty to look at, but tasted like nothing. Thinking of the conversation with my friend, I wondered what kind of science went into making this beautiful food, and if it was even nutritious.

I began to think about how chemically dependent we are in American society. Have a headache? Here are 5 different medications that you can’t afford. Next month the pharmaceutical companies will create 5 more that you may become addicted to. Without question, we seem to trust our doctors and scientists and expose ourselves willingly to various chemicals. Even when in our gut, we know it’s not quite right.

What do we truly consider as unnatural? If we prevent ourselves from using science, could we evolve as the human race? It’s no wonder so many American citizens have rejected the warnings our scientists have presented to them. In creating this project, I came to realize that science, when used for the wrong reasons, frightens me. And yet I’m curious enough to experiment.

Chemical Beings are 16x20 silver gelatin fiber prints.
⇠Back