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Read the press release here.

Uptown Art Show Celebrates New York's Diversity Through Food

By Carla Zanoni | January 6, 2012 6:45pm

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Big Apple diversity is making its uptown debut as celebrated artist Hidemi Takagi introduces her colorful celebration of New York City’s diverse immigrant culture at Le Cheile in Washington Heights. 

The show, titled "Blender," showcases the immigrant cultures of New York City through images of the eclectic wrappers that cover a variety of food products shipped to the city from around the world. 

The result is a snapshot of every foodie’s fantasy bodega, where bright red jars of Mexican La Morena jalapeño peppers sit side-by-side with fizzy bright yellow Senegalese pineapple soda pop and orange and brown cardboard boxes of “Embajador” Dominican cooking chocolate. 

My work reflects my life as a child in the days after I moved to New York,” the artist said of her work on her website

"As an immigrant who has lived in New York for over 10 years, traveling among the five boroughs using public transportation is still fascinating and exciting; being in this city can feel like visiting another country," she added

Takagi takes a look at the city’s disparate cultures through the “exuberant designs on packaging of food imports from all over the world that are distributed in many varied immigrant neighborhoods,” according to the show’s organizers.  

“The look of these food packages often has an old-fashioned feel: bright, saturated colors; strong shapes and lines; and occasionally outmoded, naive designs,” reads one promotion for the show. 

The Kyoto-born Washington Heights resident’s anthropological-styled artwork was shown in Times Square over the summer of 2011 when the Times Square Alliance showcased 95 images of packaged food imports from 47 countries found in shops in immigrant neighborhoods across the five boroughs of New York City. 

Her work has been exhibited throughout the world, with exhibitions featured as close as the Bronx and as far as Tel Aviv, Isreal. 

For now, her colorful pop-up bodega will be on display through Feb. 5. An opening reception kicks off the show at Le Cheile at 839 W. 181st St. on Friday, Jan. 6, from 6 to 9 p.m.