Shahar Afek’s practice revolves around questions such as how can one re-fabricate the past and how might a personal memory or experience be shared through smell, taste, or touch. Afek’s additional training as a chef is reflected in his treatment of materials, he appropriates the processes used in the culinary industry to recreate memories or experiences by extracting scents and tastes, resulting in a live emotional presence in space.

Combining culinary and artistic practices, Afek caters to his spectators’ senses by turning the ephemeral sensual practices of cooking – which conclude when the dish is served and consumed – into the timeless experience of art. Using ingredients such as tropical extracts, Afek creates a conceptual menu – one that offers sensual experiences from remote, exotic locations, or a blend of “olfactory dishes” to be intimately inhaled, giving rise to complex biographical memories or emotions.