honorable mention
Neil Marcello
title
Sweet Tooth
I began the process for this project, by basing the selection of candy on the types I used to consume, taking into consideration the quantity of candy available in each bag or packet, as sold over-the-counter to children and adults. From 2014-2016, I designed, built and photographed dioramas that hint or suggest the role of industry and artificial production of these candies. As the project neared its final stage, I learned that Nestle had decided to incorporate natural dyes in certain candies. The company switched to using natural dyes in the latest production of the Butterfinger candy, prior to the completion of this project in 2016.
The photographs in this series are not meant as a condemnation of any industry. I offer them up as kitsch motifs - similar to the shapes, colors and forms used by candy manufacturers to stimulate and entice the viewer - to reflect on how far we may be willing to go in order to satisfy our craving.
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entry description
Sweet Tooth features photographs that consider the role of synthetic dyes in popular candy. The genesis of this idea began with a report I heard on National Public Radio; it featured a group of American mothers petitioning the candy manufacturer, Mars, to remove artificial dyes from the M&Ms candy product. What peaked my interest was that Mars used (and continues to use) natural dyes in their production of candies in Europe and the U.K., but not in the United States.I began the process for this project, by basing the selection of candy on the types I used to consume, taking into consideration the quantity of candy available in each bag or packet, as sold over-the-counter to children and adults. From 2014-2016, I designed, built and photographed dioramas that hint or suggest the role of industry and artificial production of these candies. As the project neared its final stage, I learned that Nestle had decided to incorporate natural dyes in certain candies. The company switched to using natural dyes in the latest production of the Butterfinger candy, prior to the completion of this project in 2016.
The photographs in this series are not meant as a condemnation of any industry. I offer them up as kitsch motifs - similar to the shapes, colors and forms used by candy manufacturers to stimulate and entice the viewer - to reflect on how far we may be willing to go in order to satisfy our craving.
back to gallery
