Oona Wagner, a 13-year-old girl who lives with her father and stepmother, has her favorite Italian food prepared by her father while watching a television show on her bed. Location: Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
Photographer Miho Aikawa’s ‘Dinner In NY’ series is a revealing look at the dinner habits of New Yorkers.
She was fascinated by the results of a Public Health Nutrition study, which found that eating has shifted from being a primary activity to a secondary one among Americans over the past 30 years. The study also stated that nearly 50% of eating is done while doing something else.
For her project, Aikawa captured intimate portraits of them during mealtimes at home and in the workplace.
They range from a teenage girl eating a bowl of pasta on her bed while staring at her computer screen, to young professionals having greasy take-out and beer at their desks.
Through her photographs, Aikawa examines the diverse roles of dinner in our lives and asks: what is a quality dinner?
For some of her subjects, their dinner habits are probably reflective of their busy lifestyles, while for some dinner is a time to bond and socialize. Yet others view it as an occasion for quiet solitude.
Check out some pictures below and view the series here.
Avina Christie, a nine-month-old baby, has dinner with her mother while Skyping her grandparents who live in Boston. Location: Upper West Side, New York City
Zheng Yun, a 52-year-old mother-of-two who lives with her daughter and son, but usually eats dinner alone while watching television. Location: Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn
U Pa Mok Kha, a 55-year-old monk from Myanmar who cannot eat after noon. Locals bring him food, and after he is done, he shares the rest of the food with them. Location: Jackson Heights, Queens
Jai Yoon Lee, a 20-year-old student from South Korea, has dinner in her dorm room while watching her favorite Japanese television shows. Location: Greenwich Village, New York City
Yohan Kim, a 28-year-old architect, working overtime with his co-workers. They had pizza and beer at their desks. Location: Dumbo, Brooklyn
Carlos Ledesma, a 31-year-old Argentine, usually enjoys Sunday night with his friends watching television shows on HBO at home. Location: Astoria, Queens
Garro Heedae, a 28-year-old musician, has dinner late at night after intensive drum rehearsal sessions. Location: Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn
[via Feature Shoot, images via Miho Aikawa]