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Edible Monsters

Designed by Zim & Zou, genetically engineered creatures populate the windows of the Rinascente in Milan to tell how the use of chemicals is harmful to health.

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  • 04 May 2015
  • Milan

Until May 10, la Rinascente’s windows facing on piazza Duomo host the installation Edible Monsters, by Zim&Zou: carnivorous sunflowers, mutant fish, genetic manipulations and genetically modified corncobs come to life to emphasise how the use of chemicals and aggressive farming methods can be harmful to our health.

Zim&Zou, Edible Monsters. Insecticide: in a field of sunflowers, a mutant plant is devouring a bee, an insect that is crucial for its pollination and reproduction. All of this represents a monstrous act of self-defence as pesticides make plants immune to the attacks of insects but also expose them to their extinction by impeding nature to recreate its cycle

The style is that of a caricatural metaphor, using irony and humour, to talk about one of the main themes of Expo Milano 2015 in an original and engaging way. The authors Zim&Zou, the creative French duo composed of Lucie Thomas and Thibault Zimmermann, illustrate in each of the 6 windows a precise modus operandi of the modern food industry creating a colourful paper universe, entirely made by hand. Two windows show the making of the two artists working on their installation.

Zim&Zou, Edible Monsters. Medicines yes, but without overdoing it! A fish that looks decisively odd, with around ten eyes and too many fins, is feeding on extra-large pills that slowly sink to the bottom of a pond. A visual metaphor to say that the excessive use of drugs, instead of being beneficial to the health, may develop resistance to antibiotics and cause malformations
Zim&Zou, Edible Monsters. Chicken (don't) run: a bunch of cages make up a battery farm. The residents of this disturbing resort are chickens with human-like features. They do not live an exhilarating life: they cannot tell the difference between night and day and cannot completely open heir wings. You will not fail to ask yourself some questions when looking at these small creatures with such a human-like appearance
Zim&Zou, Edible Monsters. But what do we eat? A 3D printer prints a cupcake using ink that is labelled edible. The cake slowly takes shapes and gives life to a strange character; thus raising the issue of its edibility. This window is clearly an invitation to reflect upon the chemical ingredients used by the industry
Zim&Zou, Edible Monsters. Never mess around with genetics: a lab made up of phials and test tubes that looks pretty sinister generates a rabbit with multiple ears: the victim of overzealous science. It is a clone and as such demonstrates the lack of knowledge and control we have over genetic manipulation and this is somewhat unnerving.
Zim&Zou, Edible Monsters. Bad giants: a cornfield hosts an unnaturally oversized corncob; a monster that is trying to devour all the surrounding plants. This disproportionate growth symbolises the use of genetically modified organisms and puts the emphasis on serious health problems for the people who consume them
Zim&Zou, Edible Monsters. Making of video
Zim&Zou, Edible Monsters


until May 10, 2015
Zim&Zou
Edible Monsters
la Rinascente
piazza Duomo, Milano

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