At the Art Gallery of Hamilton (AGH), a remarkable exhibit is bridging the worlds of music, visual art, and storytelling. Titled SoundBites, the exhibit comes from the mind of Roger Mooking, an accomplished chef, artist, and musician.
SoundBites is on display through February 23, 2025 and embodies the multifaceted creative identity that Mooking has cultivated throughout his career. Known to many as a television chef and host of shows like Man Fire Food and Everyday Exotic, Mooking’s latest endeavor sees him translating his creativity beyond the culinary world. In SoundBites, visitors can engage with his work in ways that go beyond food and fire, drawing instead on music, photography, visual storytelling, and experiential design.
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Crafted with multiple entry points, the exhibition allows each visitor to experience this “multisensory journey” in their own unique way. Mooking hopes visitors will find an element they’re drawn to first—whether music, visual art, or stories—and use it as a starting point to explore the interconnected layers of the exhibit.
“I wanted people to experience SoundBites through whichever door they enter first,” Mooking says. “Some may gravitate to the music first, then walk out the visual door. Or maybe they walk in through the visual door and exit the story door.”
SoundBites is on display through February 23, 2025.
Each section is laden with what Mooking describes as “Easter eggs,” moments and details woven throughout that encourage repeat visits. He views the whole experience as a form of chaotic harmony, a feeling he wanted to amplify through his art and which he describes as “a manipulation of the concept of time.”
The creation of SoundBites was driven by Mooking’s desire to express the organized chaos he experiences in his own creative process. The songs in SoundBites are short and impactful, each paired with its own unique image and story. Mooking first developed the music and then felt compelled to create visuals and narratives to accompany each song, thus giving the experience a three-dimensional quality.
For Mooking, the different elements of SoundBites combine to offer what he calls “the purest peek into my mind ever.” The paintings, photos, and written vignettes in the exhibit reveal raw yet refined emotions that are integral to Mooking’s creative process. “My work here is a little rough around the edges but thoughtful, bold and colourful, yet also pensive and insular,” he notes. This is a side of Mooking that audiences have rarely seen, and he hopes they’ll come away with a better understanding of his approach to creativity.
Roger Mooking.
Mooking’s culinary expertise doesn’t manifest directly in SoundBites, but his attention to detail in crafting an experience is unmistakable. The only “taste” present in the exhibit is metaphorical, yet Mooking considers his artistic decisions “tasteful” and steeped in his culinary background. “The taste is really only involved through activations we’ve done, like The Goldfish Dinner connected to the exhibit,” he explains. This past event connected culinary arts with SoundBites, allowing guests to engage their taste buds while exploring the art.
The exhibit also connects back to his Canadian roots, particularly through his work as the first Culinary Ambassador for Grey County in Ontario. His role in the county’s Gather Campaign—part of Ontario’s Rural Economic Development Program—celebrates the region’s culinary heritage and aims to raise awareness of its unique offerings, launching in early 2025. “Grey County is magical, it’s filled with farms, artisans, and landscapes that feed both body and spirit,” shares Mooking. It’s clear that being an artist is as much about representing his roots as it is about breaking new ground.
As an artist, Mooking’s passion for storytelling extends beyond visual art. In Breaking Bread with Roger Mooking, a live-streamed series filmed at Ontario’s Rocklands Market, he delves into deeply personal stories, cooking alongside guests who share family recipes that have been passed down for generations. This project lets Mooking connect with people on a personal level.
“We start with their cherished childhood memories, cook together, and by the time we’re eating, we’re like long-lost friends,” he says. For Mooking, this intimacy is what makes food one of the most powerful mediums for human connection.
“Culture is a living, breathing thing, forever changing because it is the people who make it.” – Roger Mooking
Mooking’s capacity for empathy and connection also permeates his visual art. He describes his work as “rough yet polished,” and while his formal culinary training certainly informs his work, his artistic style is grounded in a philosophy of exploration and innovation. “I’m always learning how things are done and then disrupting that way for a unique expression,” he reflects. His work in SoundBites embodies this approach, inviting audiences to experience his creative chaos firsthand.
Known for integrating global flavours into his cuisine, Mooking’s travels and heritage show up in subtle ways within SoundBites. His journey has always been defined by curiosity and cultural diversity, which can be seen in the vibrant yet nuanced pieces in the exhibit. For Mooking, expressing his Canadian identity on the global stage is also deeply important.
“As a Canadian citizen, everything one does is an expression of Canadian culture,” he says. “Culture is a living, breathing thing, forever changing because it is the people who make it.” His work, both culinary and artistic, contributes to this ever-evolving cultural landscape. From Caribbean heritage to Ontario’s agricultural bounty, Mooking’s work feels both deeply personal and culturally significant.
Soundbites at the Art Gallery of Hamilton.
Seeking the fullest version of himself is a lifelong mission, and for Mooking, SoundBites is one chapter in that journey. Whether it’s through food, music, or visual art, Mooking is dedicated to using his platform to encourage others to embrace their creative potential. By presenting his life’s work and insights into his process, he hopes to inspire others to seek out and express their own unique artistic identities. “If you’re not pushing the extremities of your capacity, you’ve stopped evolving,” he advises.
Visit SoundBites at the Art Gallery of Hamilton
Roger Mooking’s SoundBites exhibit at the Art Gallery of Hamilton runs until February 23, 2025. Visitors can expect an intimate look into Mooking’s mind through an array of paintings, photos, songs, and stories. This is an opportunity to see Roger Mooking as he’s never been seen before: not just as a chef or TV host, but as a multidisciplinary artist challenging the limits of his craft.
For those who can’t get enough of Mooking’s artistry, Breaking Bread with Roger Mooking and his work with Grey County’s Gather Campaign will provide additional avenues to explore his creative influence and culinary passion. These projects undoubtedly make Roger Mooking one of Canada’s most dynamic artists, redefining what it means to celebrate food, art, and culture in harmony.
