Food, along with the rituals related to preparing and eating it, tells primarily stories about people, their time, and the world around them. For example, the various fruits, fish, bread, and tableware depicted in still lifes speak both of everyday life and of the passing of time, serving as symbols of beauty and abundance as well as temporality and transience. Works portraying people preparing or eating food tell stories about the social meaning of food, whether related to family ties, celebrations, poverty, wealth, or different dining customs. Sometimes food is depicted as a symbol to speak more broadly about society, values, consumption, identity, and culture.
A total of 1,010 artworks from 82 schools across Estonia were submitted to the art competition of the same name organised by the Tartu Art Museum. A selection of these works has been made for the exhibition, and the jury has chosen the best works in three age groups.
