Beyond the Plate: Exploring culture and agrifood systems through art

The World Food Forum (WFF) Youth Initiative, in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations Agencies in Rome, presents Beyond the Plate, an art exhibition created to commemorate World Food Day. It was displayed during the 2025 WFF flagship event at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy.

Beyond the Plate features works by Berlin-based artist Johanna Dreyer, a figurative oil painter and creative director known for her immersive compositions and layered symbolism. Through bold colours and surreal imagery, Dreyer constructs visual worlds that invite viewers to reflect on how art can shape the way we think about food and its role in our lives.

Her recent series of figurative collages places fruits and vegetables in carefully curated settings alongside cultural symbols and visual codes of contemporary society. These compositions prompt viewers to explore the connections between culture, identity and nourishment, opening a space for dialogue on how perceptions of food are shaped in a rapidly changing world.

Beyond the Plate connects artistic reflection with the broader mission of the WFF Youth Initiative: empower youth and foster intergenerational dialogue through creative expression that reimagines agrifood systems for a sustainable future.

The collaboration underscores a shared commitment to strengthening cultural diplomacy and fostering dialogue through art. Together, they highlight the transformative role of culture in shaping more equitable and sustainable agrifood systems.