There's a lesson in everything we see.
Looking obvious makes it easier to find.
Ancient Recipe for Disaster
A Recipe for disaster is a compilation of instances people messed up, put together into an artistic and step by step illustration like an actual recipe. Beware of the bad aftertaste.
Information Visualisation
Data Art
Graphic Design
Studio
Information Visualisation
Timeline
Jan 2024 - Feb 2024
Role
Graphic Designer, Illustrator
So you’re a Chef?
I’m no Chef. But it looks like life handed me a recipe, and I decided to cook it up into something wildly unexpected. It all began with the realization that our daily grind is a lot like a culinary adventure, where ordinary ingredients get spiced up with a dash of irony and a pinch of chaos. Gone are the days when a recipe simply required flour, sugar, and eggs. Now, imagine a recipe that calls for a pinch of "Monday morning traffic," a dash of "awkward family gatherings," and a dollop of "lost car keys." Suddenly, even your humble chocolate chip cookies transform into an existential escapade!
I started seeing life as a grand kitchen where every experience is an ingredient in the ultimate dish—the "Recipe for Disaster" sandwich. It wasn’t just about following instructions; it was about embracing the absurdity of everyday life. The spices? They weren't your run-of-the-mill cinnamon or paprika, but rather a generous helping of "unrequited love," "midlife crises," and "millennial nostalgia."
Picture seasoning your stew with a sprinkle of "lost childhood dreams" and being whisked away to a flavor realm as intricate as your therapist's hourly rate. But let me take you deeper into the making of this epic sandwich, a true culinary masterpiece of calamity.
Tell me about this cuisine.
In a world where culinary experimentation knows no bounds, there emerged a dish destined to rewrite the rules of chaos—enter the "Recipe for Disaster" sandwich! This is no ordinary snack; it's a gastronomic delight that blends the finest ingredients of misdirection, provocation, ignorance, and oversight into a symphony of spectacular mishaps.
The Trojan Horse Patty
Our journey begins with the Trojan Horse Patty. Yes, you heard that right! Inspired by the legendary wooden horse that deceived an entire city, this patty is the embodiment of misdirection. Nestled between two slices of bread, it whispers, "What could possibly go wrong?" Ah, the sweet taste of trickery!
Pearl Harbor Sauce
Next, we smear on a generous helping of Pearl Harbor sauce—a concoction that takes your taste buds on a surprise attack of flavor. Just as history shocked the world on that fateful December day, this sauce catches you off guard with an explosion of zest, challenging you to reconsider every culinary choice you've ever made.
There’s more?
Chernobyl Plant Lettuce
For a touch of the unexpected, we add Chernobyl Plant Lettuce. This isn’t your garden-variety green—no, this lettuce is grown in the radioactive soils of Chernobyl, guaranteeing each bite comes with a thrilling side of unpredictability. Who knows? You might just develop a quirky superpower or an extra limb—embrace the chaos!
Titanic Cheese
And what's a sandwich without cheese? Not just any cheese, but Titanic Cheese! With its holes as vast as the ship's ill-fated hull, every bite serves as a somber reminder of monumental oversights. Is that a cheese hole, or a mini iceberg? Only your taste buds can decide.
The Art of Creating a Disaster
Assembling these ingredients isn’t for the faint of heart—it demands a mastery of culinary espionage. Layer upon layer, each element conspires with the others: the deceptive Trojan Horse Patty balances the audacious Pearl Harbor sauce, while the Chernobyl Plant Lettuce adds that electrifying twist, and the Titanic Cheese seals the deal with its notorious oversights. The result? A sandwich so bewilderingly chaotic that it transforms disaster into art.
I’m full, No thank you.
As Sir David Attenborough would’ve put it, In this era of culinary storytelling, where recipes read like epic novels and ingredients mirror our daily struggles, the "Recipe for Disaster" sandwich stands as a satirical masterpiece. It reminds us to question the unexpected, prepare for the unpredictable, and always double-check our essentials. So, the next time you encounter a recipe calling for a cup of "Monday morning blues," a tablespoon of "unpaid bills," and a drizzle of "office politics," don’t panic. Embrace the narrative, stir in a hearty dose of laughter, and savor every absurd bite.
After all, in the grand banquet of life, you’re the master chef—ready to whip up a deliciously chaotic dish that’s as unforgettable as it is ironic. Bon appétit!
"It’s a work of art, an evolution from basic and failed experiments of visualisation to a masterpiece."
Sandeep Pulla
Faculty, Srishti Manipal