Pescription Barbecue

© Carla Thomas 2004

Barbeque; a social event involving food and a heat source.

"if only i could eat a pill to satisfy my hunger..."

This purely conceptual project aims to change the event of eating to one for necessity relating to the importance of health for those that don't enjoy the indulgence and may even avoid it.

Dehydrated food is compressed into effervescent pills. once the food type has been selected the food is 'cooked' in a self heating gel-filled mould activated by clicking a disc (similar to hand warmers)

Initially the moulds resemble the typical foods shapes found at a barbeque; burgers, sausages, kebabs, chicken drumsticks...

The versatility of the moulds means that the food could take almost any shape at differnt times of year. ie a pumpkin burger at halloween, a christmas tree shaped sausage, an easter egg burger.. similar to the way in which chocolate is adapted to suit the theme of the time.

The social activity involves swapping and sharing moulds between guests, the emphasis - taken off consumption of food and instead transferred to the psychology of taking medication.

By adopting the visual identity of pharmaceutical products the process is transformed to one for necessity and health.