Weapons of Vegetation by Tsuyoshi Ozawa

Saury Fish Ball Hot Pot Weapon (Tokyo, 2001) © Tsuyoshi Ozawa
Saury Fish Ball Hot Pot Weapon (Tokyo, 2001) © Tsuyoshi Ozawa

Tsuyoshi Ozawa began making, photographing and eating Vegetable Weapons in 2001. The Japanese photographer now travels around the world taking pictures of women bearing “weapons” made from ingredients for indigenous hot-pot dishes. His art then concludes in him cooking the “weapons” and sharing an actual hot-pot meal.

Chikuzenni Weapon (Kyoto, 2008) © Tsuyoshi Ozawa
Chikuzenni Weapon (Kyoto, 2008) © Tsuyoshi Ozawa

The Vegetable Weapons photos take aim at the stupidity of war, and they’re currently on  view at Tokyo’s Misa Shin Gallery. Really cool stuff.

Simmered Vegetable Weapon (Fukushima, 2011) © Tsuyoshi Ozawa
Simmered Vegetable Weapon (Fukushima, 2011) © Tsuyoshi Ozawa

If you enjoy Ozawa’s Vegetable Weapons, check out Robert Micklesen’s weapons of peace. Also, there’s a PERFECT musical pairing for these photos in the form of Negativland’s “Guns (Now)”. Unfortunately, all I can find on YouTube is “Guns (Then),” which is a rad song, but a total sausage party.

Mutton Hot Pot Weapon (Beijing, 2002) © Tsuyoshi Ozawa
Mutton Hot Pot Weapon (Beijing, 2002) © Tsuyoshi Ozawa
Crawfish Etouffee Weapon (New Orleans, 2011) © Tsuyoshi Ozawa
Crawfish Etouffee Weapon (New Orleans, 2011) © Tsuyoshi Ozawa

 Spoon and Tamago