Scanwiches by John Chonko
Exactly as the name says, Chonko literally scans in cross-sections of sandwiches, taking the everyday sandwich and placing it in a new light to be observed. “By using a tool mainly used for office work: the flatbed scanner, he has given it a new life and uses it as a photographic vehicle.” [1] This body of work idolises a simple, everyday food item to explore the "exciting hidden qualities of the everyday and mundane" [2] and to express Chonko's love for sandwiches. "They're these beautiful and personal objects that are easily forgotten or ignored. They have these architectural qualities, they're constructed, not just made, … and I wanted to expose they're intricacies. … they hold so many stories." [3]
Preparation for each artwork begins by slicing and preparing the ingredients. He then either constructs the sandwich cross-section, or builds the sandwich and then reveals the cross-section by slicing it in half. Several skewers are used to keep each layer in place, after which he scans it in. His process has been documented through videos which can be watched here.
Unlike some of the other artists I've researched, Chonko highlights the individual elements of this food product through the constructed item rather than deconstruction. The different layers are clearly visible and makes the audience aware of the complexity, or sometimes the simplicity, behind a great sandwich. His use of a scanner to photograph the images is also an example of an alien method as people don't normally interchange the two to perform the other's purpose.
