Uneaten

This self-initiated project started with my interest in the impressions we as humans leave on places and objects. Working in a conference centre at Warwick University as a waitress meant I served large business groups for breakfast, lunch and dinner. After each service, I would take in customers' plates and judge them by what they left uneaten. 

I wanted to see if looking at the plates closely would build a picture of who they were by the small details that were left behind. I started to photograph the plates that came back into the kitchen and attach labels of their occupation below to try and establish a connection between what they didn’t eat and what job they have. With these photographs, I created a book and several prints which proved there was actually a connection between the customer's leftovers and their job role. As well as this I separated the plates into male and female to see what gender left the most food and how they returned their plate to the kitchen.

My work was inspired by artist Damien Hirst's dot paintings and the layouts he uses however, using photographs instead.