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The ongoing COVID-19 lockdown has drastically changed our daily routines. While most people find it hard to cope with self-isolation, one artist decided to use this extra time to spend her mornings creatively. Japanese artist Manami Sasaki, also known as sasamana1204 to her 11.9k Instagram followers, creates art on slices of toast while working from home during the lockdown. Scroll down for Bored Panda’s interview with the artist!

More info: Instagram | suzuri.jp

#1

Sakura

Sakura

Ingredients: sliced bread, blueberry jam, chocolate.

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For Manami Sasaki, the making of toast is the time to slow down and be creative in the midst of these chaotic times. Every morning, she sits down and uses bread as her canvas to create quite unusual but incredible food art. Her “Stay Home” series, which she started during the quarantine period, features different themes, varying from famous artworks such as Ikko Tanaka’s “The 200th Anniversary Of Sharaku” to zen Japanese rock gardens.

#2

Japanese Rock Garden

Japanese Rock Garden

Ingredients: sliced bread, sour cream, nuts, matcha.

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#3

Jasmine

Jasmine

Ingredients: sliced bread, tomato sauce, margarine, mint, mustard.

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“I work from home so I have more time in the morning. But since I have time, I’ve slacked off. I wanted to create a habit of waking up in the morning happily, so I turned the toast I usually eat into art. There are other people who do toast art, but I really value eating well. I pay attention to the ingredients. We don’t use any artificial colors, and we try to use the shapes and colors of the materials well. We also choose themes related to Japanese culture, design, and art. I want to tell people what I love about myself. I hope that anyone who is feeling anxious or sad due to Corona will feel a little better in the morning,” explains the artist. 

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#4

Hanafuda

Hanafuda

Ingredients: sliced bread, sour cream, whitebait, blue seaweed, grilled seaweed, pollock roe, cherry tomato.

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#5

Sei Shōnagon

Sei Shōnagon

Ingredients: sliced bread, sour cream, dried bonito flakes, squid, sprinkle with salmon, cheese, purple cabbage, shrimp, whitebait, and blue seaweed.

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The artist takes inspiration from Japanese traditions so it’s natural that some of the artworks show traditional Japanese rock gardens, anime characters, Japanese paintings, and even Japanese dances. For her creations, she uses a variety of ingredients that mostly can be found in any Japanese kitchen—seaweed, tomatoes, sour cream, nuts, and fish. Well, except only the edible gold leaf. 

#6

Dick Bruna "Miffy"

Dick Bruna "Miffy"

Ingredients: sliced bread, tarako mayo, sour cream, seaweed, cheddar cheese.

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#7

Nihon Buyō

Nihon Buyō

Ingredients: sliced bread, sour cream, seaweed, tomato, basil, paprika, purple cabbage, ketchup.

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When asked how long it takes for her to make one creation, she said: “It depends on the theme of the day, but about 3 hours. The longest one took six hours. When I have a lot of work to do, I choose a theme that isn’t so hard to work on.” The artist explains that she starts her preparations the night before so she can go to the grocery store and shop for the ingredients. “I decide on a theme the night before. I also think about what ingredients I’d like to eat tomorrow and finally decide on a theme for the next day’s toast. After that, I go to the grocery store, where I incorporate new ingredients I’ve discovered, and go home to create. About 60% of the work is completed the night before. I get up in the morning, finish it, shoot it, and then eat it.”

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#8

Moon

Moon

Ingredients: sliced bread, squid.

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#9

Franco Grignani "Today's Italian Publicity And Graphic Design"

Franco Grignani "Today's Italian Publicity And Graphic Design"

Ingredients: sliced bread, sour cream, black pepper, ketchup.

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spankyraven avatar
Claire
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love how the background is an extension of the art on the toast.

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When asked what she enjoys the most about the creative process, the artist says: “When the bread is baked. A moment where my creativity and my food mix. I love to see the toasted art being baked while smelling the goodness of the bread. And it makes me want to eat it fast.”

#10

Ikko Tanaka "The 200th Anniversary Of Sharaku"

Ikko Tanaka "The 200th Anniversary Of Sharaku"

Ingredients: sliced bread, cinnamon, margarine, sour cream, chocolate, kiwi, cherries, blueberry jam.

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#11

Gegege No Kitarō

Gegege No Kitarō

Ingredients: sliced bread, margarine, grilled seaweed.

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When Sasaki is not making her incredible toast art, she creates amazing watercolor illustrations, which you can find on the artist’s website and her Instagram. “I have been drawing since I was a child. I’ve taken realism for granted since I was in elementary school, so I was interested in accidental expression, so I painted watercolors and oil paintings. I went to college in Tokyo where I immersed myself in design and art. I now work as an artist while working for a design company. Bread art is more of a habit than artwork, and I work mainly with conceptual art.” It seems like her creativity has no boundaries! Who knows what she’ll prepare for us in the future?

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#12

Kintsugi

Kintsugi

Ingredients: sliced bread, sour cream, edible gold leaf, ketchup.

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Becca Gizmo the Squirrel
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nothing sounds better than sour cream mixed with ketchup. Not really, but it is pretty.

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#13

Paul Rand "Eye Bee M"

Paul Rand "Eye Bee M"

Ingredients: sliced bread, paprika, macadamia nuts, grilled seaweed, sausage, cheese, watercress, purple cabbage, and rice.

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#14

Pantone

Pantone

Ingredients: sliced bread, avocado dip, sour cream, grilled seaweed.

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#15

Paul Rand "The Art Directors Club Poster"

Paul Rand "The Art Directors Club Poster"

Ingredients: sliced bread, seaweed, petit tomatoes, cheese, basil, purple cabbage, rice, sour cream.

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#16

Bruno Munari "Tutto Quadro"

Bruno Munari "Tutto Quadro"

Ingredients: sliced bread, cherry tomato, basil, seaweed, sour cream.

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