THE GALLERY by Odo (17 West 20th Street) is pleased to present Intention and Detail, a solo photography exhibition by renowned photographer, scientist, chef, and author Nathan Myhrvold. On view from Tuesday, September 24, through Sunday,November 3, 2024, Intention and Detail is Myhrvold’s debut solo exhibition in New York City. 

Known for his avant-garde, rule-bending photography, Myhrvold experiments with innovative techniques and custom-built equipment to capture ordinary foods and beverages from extraordinary perspectives. His award-winning work has garnered critical acclaim from both the food and photography worlds. For this new exhibition, the founder of Modernist Cuisine continues his focus on the intersection of food and art, drawing inspiration from Japanese cuisine, including ingredients used by chef Hiroki Odo of the two-Michelin-starred Odo restaurant.

Myhrvold shared his excitement for the exhibition, stating, “I’m thrilled to be exhibited at THE GALLERY by Odo. My goal for this collection is to show the contrast between very traditional ingredients and the very modern, urban life—the seeming contradiction that is modern Japan.”

The exhibition includes high-magnification images that capture the hidden beauty of ingredients such as nori, katsobushi, kurogoma, yumepirika, and shiso leaf. Myhrvold’s photography illuminates the intricate details of these foods through a macro perspective that’s rarely seen by the naked eye.

The exhibition includes high-magnification images that capture the hidden beauty of ingredients such as nori, katsobushi, kurogoma, yumepirika, and shiso leaf. Myhrvold’s photography illuminates the intricate details of these foods through a macro perspective that’s rarely seen by the naked eye.

Equally fascinated by how food is prepared, Myhrvold traveled to Matsushimaya, a small and historic Japanese confectionery in Minato, Tokyo, to photograph the painstaking process of making mame daifuku by hand. A twelve-image series captures the care and intention that goes into transforming glutinous rice and red beans into a sweet, delicate mochi cake. This exhibition will present for the first time these limited-edition images available to the public.

“It is an honor for our team to have this opportunity to collaborate with Nathan on his inaugural exhibition and to also craft a storyline between his photography and cuisine. We’re excited to welcome guests to THE GALLERY for this incredible, thought-provoking display of works,”noted Hiroki Odo. 

Describing his unique perspective, Myhrvold added, “As a photographer, I like to look at familiar things in an unfamiliar way. Food is something that’s so much a part of our lives. What we eat has never been more important to us than it is today. Food is one of the ways we define cultures and ourselves as individuals, and, at the same time, it also connects and brings us closer to others. Food as art is an expression of those values.” 

Beyond the exhibition, Myhrvold’s frozen-motion wine photography is on display in the Odo Lounge and private dining room. These works were created using custom-built robotics to capture moments in fractions of a second and evoke the fleeting beauty of a perfect glass of wine. Intention and Detail can be viewed during THE GALLERY by Odo’s hours, 11:45 a.m.– 2:30 p.m. and 5:00–10:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. All artwork is available for purchase.