Fictitious Dishes

Based off of the short story "The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury, I wanted to bring in both the mechanical nature behind the nursery through the utensils and through the cup, but also the fantasies of the nursery through the place mat. I wove together two separate place mats made from .5x11" strips of paper, to simulate the grasslands described in the story. I also noted the work referencing "the white of bone" and desired to make bone one of the more prominent aspects of the piece. Among two bones shaped in a traditional manner, there is also a finger shaped bone lying in the bowl as well. The bowl itself is also formed to resemble that of the top of the cranium. Because of the twist at the end of the story, and the ambiguity of what the lions are feasting on, the meat in the setting has no plate, and is intentionally vague in shape. While it somewhat resembles a steak, it is hard to place exactly what it might be, other than some form of meat. Its coloration is also more purple than the plump red of a juicy tenderloin, making it look somewhat diseased rather than an appetizing treat.