JP Terlizzi: Creatures of Curiosity

The Good Dishes integrates memory, legacy, and metaphor with my response to loss. As I witnessed an early generation of family members pass, my cousins and I were each faced with the emotional task of cleaning out the family home. Sorting through the heirlooms, we would determine which items to toss, sell, or preserve. Without fail, when it came to the family’s fine china, that item was always given to the person who most cherished its memory and sentimental value.

Growing up in a large Italian family, everything was centered around food and the family table... Eating is a physical need, but meals are a social ritual. Utilizing the passed-down heirlooms of friends and family, The Good Dishes celebrates the memory of family and togetherness. It borrows the stylized rituals of formal tableware and draws inspiration from classic still-life paintings. Background textiles are individually designed and constructed to reflect patterns found in each table setting while presentation, etiquette, and formality are disassociated by using food and fine china in unconventional ways as metaphors for the beauty and intimacy that are centered around meal and table.

The Creatures of Curiosity collection unveils the latest additions of contemporary still-lifes that enrich the acclaimed series The Good Dishes by photographer JP Terlizzi. Each tablescape in the series draws its foundation from JP’s collection of fine china, representing the essence of tradition and the beauty of connections forged through gathering over a shared meal. With a special focus on a range of creatures like exotic birds, tigers, cheetahs, snakes, insects, and monkeys, the lavish visual feast depicts an eclectic range where the brightness of color, ornate patterns, and unconventional food pairings suggest temptation and indulgence through the richness of nourishment, the opulence of life, and exotic luxuries.

— JP Terlizzi

Food, flowers, and objects have a rich and captivating history that has influenced cultures, religions, and civilizations throughout time. From ancient Egypt to medieval Europe, the Victorian era, and the present day, they have played a significant role in various rituals, ceremonies, art, and culture. Our relationship with food and flowers is unique and reveals a profound connection between humans and nature. They require gentle handling, watering, and nurturing, and their multi-sensory experience has been shown to significantly impact our mental and physical health.

Garden Symphonies explores harmony and beauty woven within the tapestry of nature. The series of images juxtaposes darkness with light, creating a visually seductive narrative that warmly embraces the interplay of indulgence and abundance. These images act as an allegory for the ever-changing nature of time, adeptly capturing the transient essence of earthly existence. The collection invites you to "hear with your eyes" and celebrates the vibrant hues present in the ephemeral beauty of flowers, the succulence of fruit, and the symbolic richness embedded in textiles.

— JP Terlizzi