Potatoes take center stage in “Potasia: Potatoism in the East” exhibit, opening today

As insightful as it is entertaining, Potasia, a showcase of Asian artworks with the potato as its central subject matter, opens today and is on display through June 15, in the Charles B. Wang Center’s Skylight Gallery.

Exploring the social, cultural, and political attitudes and ideas attached to them, this exhibit of sculptures, drawings, paintings, photos, videos, posters and installations, presents a wide spectrum of potatoes in varied genres and situations – from the fantastical and realistic to comedic and serious. Visitors will also find examples of the potato as seen in Asian pop-culture, from books and cartoons to toys and snacks.

To celebrate this exhibit, the Wang Center offers potato-themed programs, as well. The lecture “The Motif of Potatoes in Korean Media (Old and New),” is held on March 22 at 4 p.m.; and the workshop, “Small Potatoes: Creating Crochet Amigurumi,” on the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed animals, takes place April 20, from 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.

While it’s commonplace for the potato to evoke images of French fries, or plates of baked or mashed potatoes, viewing potatoes as the subject of contemporary art offers new meaning to me. You say you want potato, and I say I want to see Potasia.

“Potasia: Potatoism in the East” – March 15-June 15
Charles B. Wang Center, Skylight Gallery
Stony Brook University
100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook
Potato programs: stonybrook.edu/commcms/wang