2/23/2006: London in biscuits

Undertoad · 02-23-2006, 12:29 PM

72,000 biscuits -- or, you know, "cookies" -- were used to put together this installation called "Eating the City" by Song Dong (no, that's the guy's name). It's a model of London. It was displayed for the last week in Selfridge's department store. And now, they're eating it. Yes, they are, the general public is invited to hunker down.

Actually, that's the whole point. This Guardian article explains Mr. Dong's approach:

"The purpose of my work is for the city I build to be destroyed," Dong says. "I don't have a particular city to copy from, nor a particular architectural style. I am merely following the town planning of the present day."

Dong's biscuit cities - he has built five so far - were inspired by the speed of change and urban development in China. "The expansion of a city is caused by our desire. As cities in Asia grow, old buildings are knocked down and new ones built, almost every day. Some cities have even been built from scratch in 20 years.

"My city will be built of sweets and biscuits, making it tempting and delicious. When we are eating the city we are using our desire to taste it, but at the same time, we're demolishing the city and turning it into a ruin."

Cyclefrance · 02-23-2006, 12:45 PM

As a seasoned 'dunker' I would go for the 'Custard Creams' and the 'Chocolate Hob-nobs' myself. Have been known to demolish half a packet with a single cuppa once I get going.

BTW where's Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament - don't wish to over-critical of Mr Song Dong but I can't see much to say this is London as opposed to anywhere else that has a selection of high rise biscu.. sorry buildings.

Cyclefrance · 02-23-2006, 12:50 PM

... or has someone eaten them already?

Trilby · 02-23-2006, 01:04 PM

Got milk?

axlrosen · 02-23-2006, 01:05 PM

Compare and contrast:

- Coin architecture
- Salad bar hacking [all you can eat, but one bowl only]

Elspode · 02-23-2006, 01:06 PM

What, no little chocolate-coated whale biscuit in the Thames?

FallenFairy · 02-23-2006, 01:11 PM

ahhhh ya know I just got my order of Girl Scout cookies...
what to build??

wolf · 02-23-2006, 01:21 PM

Looks like he had to rely pretty heavily on Fig Newtons and those crispy thin sugar wafer cookies. Imagine what he could have done with Oreos and Nutter Butters!

Jordon · 02-23-2006, 01:58 PM

I don't see any landmarks I recognize as Londinium, but I wouldn't touch anything from Soho.

Promenea · 02-23-2006, 03:04 PM

Ick, I mean really - all those cookies he's touched and everyone else has sneezed or breathed on and people are really eating them?

I don't so much mind people I know touching my food but crowds of strangers? Nope, not me.

capnhowdy · 02-23-2006, 04:18 PM

The looks on the childrens faces are awesome. Cookie Jenga, Anyone?

xoxoxoBruce · 02-23-2006, 04:20 PM

Cookie (biscuit) city or real city, they all go to sh*t, eventually.

AureliusVin · 02-23-2006, 06:43 PM

I want Big Ben, that's all I have to say. I wonder what it was made out of?

footfootfoot · 02-23-2006, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Promenea

Ick, I mean really - all those cookies he's touched and everyone else has sneezed or breathed on and people are really eating them?

I don't so much mind people I know touching my food but crowds of strangers? Nope, not me.

reminds me of an exhibit I saw a few years ago of ginger bread houses. My 3 year old niece, who is a sugar junkie (I've seen the tracks) cajoled her dad to let her get close enough to the houses "just so she could smell them"

Her dad, easily hoodwinked, picked her up and let her get close enough "just to smell them". Her tongue shot out and took a big lick from the side of the house.

Uhh derhay?

capnhowdy · 02-23-2006, 07:26 PM

Can't stand it any longer. I must say (oh yes I must... I must..):

Those aren't cookies.... They're Newtons!

Somebody needs to invent the sugar stick hot sugar/glue gun. Replace the glue sticks with sugar. Prolly work good here. As soon as they complete their work on the solar powered flashlight.

02-23-2006, 12:29 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	2/23/2006: London in biscuits 72,000 biscuits -- or, you know, "cookies" -- were used to put together this installation called "Eating the City" by Song Dong (no, that's the guy's name). It's a model of London. It was displayed for the last week in Selfridge's department store. And now, they're eating it. Yes, they are, the general public is invited to hunker down. Actually, that's the whole point. This Guardian article explains Mr. Dong's approach: "The purpose of my work is for the city I build to be destroyed," Dong says. "I don't have a particular city to copy from, nor a particular architectural style. I am merely following the town planning of the present day." Dong's biscuit cities - he has built five so far - were inspired by the speed of change and urban development in China. "The expansion of a city is caused by our desire. As cities in Asia grow, old buildings are knocked down and new ones built, almost every day. Some cities have even been built from scratch in 20 years. "My city will be built of sweets and biscuits, making it tempting and delicious. When we are eating the city we are using our desire to taste it, but at the same time, we're demolishing the city and turning it into a ruin."

02-23-2006, 12:45 PM	#2
Cyclefrance Pump my ride! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Deep countryside of Surrey , England Posts: 1,890	As a seasoned 'dunker' I would go for the 'Custard Creams' and the 'Chocolate Hob-nobs' myself. Have been known to demolish half a packet with a single cuppa once I get going. BTW where's Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament - don't wish to over-critical of Mr Song Dong but I can't see much to say this is London as opposed to anywhere else that has a selection of high rise biscu.. sorry buildings. __________________ Always sufficient hills - never sufficient gears

02-23-2006, 12:50 PM	#3
Cyclefrance Pump my ride! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Deep countryside of Surrey , England Posts: 1,890	... or has someone eaten them already? __________________ Always sufficient hills - never sufficient gears

02-23-2006, 01:05 PM	#5
axlrosen Major Inhabitant Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 125	Compare and contrast: - Coin architecture - Salad bar hacking [all you can eat, but one bowl only] Attached Images __________________ Warp Bill Gates

02-23-2006, 01:06 PM	#6
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	What, no little chocolate-coated whale biscuit in the Thames? __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

02-23-2006, 01:04 PM	#4
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Got milk?

02-23-2006, 01:11 PM	#7
FallenFairy nope Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 322	ahhhh ya know I just got my order of Girl Scout cookies... what to build?? __________________ ~going, going... gone now

02-23-2006, 01:21 PM	#8
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Looks like he had to rely pretty heavily on Fig Newtons and those crispy thin sugar wafer cookies. Imagine what he could have done with Oreos and Nutter Butters! __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

02-23-2006, 01:58 PM	#9
Jordon Coronation Incarnate Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 93	I don't see any landmarks I recognize as Londinium, but I wouldn't touch anything from Soho.

02-23-2006, 03:04 PM	#10
Promenea Resident President Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 86	Ick, I mean really - all those cookies he's touched and everyone else has sneezed or breathed on and people are really eating them? I don't so much mind people I know touching my food but crowds of strangers? Nope, not me.

02-23-2006, 04:18 PM	#11
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	The looks on the childrens faces are awesome. Cookie Jenga, Anyone? __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

02-23-2006, 04:20 PM	#12
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Cookie (biscuit) city or real city, they all go to sh*t, eventually. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

02-23-2006, 06:43 PM	#13
AureliusVin Expectorant Inspector Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 31	I want Big Ben, that's all I have to say. I wonder what it was made out of?

02-23-2006, 07:26 PM	#15
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	Can't stand it any longer. I must say (oh yes I must... I must..): Those aren't cookies.... They're Newtons! Somebody needs to invent the sugar stick hot sugar/glue gun. Replace the glue sticks with sugar. Prolly work good here. As soon as they complete their work on the solar powered flashlight. __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

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