Charlie Grosso - Butcher Shop, Agra, India, 2011

Part of the ongoing series, Wok the Dog. “Wok the Dog” began as an exploration of childhood fears. Clean, brightly lit supermarkets didn’t exist in Taipei in the early 80’s. The markets were dark, full of pungent smells; floors were slick with blood and water. At three feet tall, I was afraid of getting lost in the crowd, taken by the butcher, caged, and sold. At 18, I returned to Taiwan and to the markets, wanting to see what had made me so afraid. What was once fear has turned into an examination of the commerce of life: the death of the animal sustains our lives and the livelihood of the vendors. I realize how purchasing packaged meats, “pink in plastic,” makes me forget about where food comes from. The sterility of the 24-hour superstore renders us blind to impact we make on the natural equilibrium with our food purchases. Convenience permits us to avoid our own mortality. Our detachment makes the food less special, and life less precious. We would not eat as we do, or waste as we do if we really understand what it takes to produce a six ounce steak. Recognizing the truth enhances our humanity; the beastliness lies in our avoidance. There is an honestly in the lives of the vendors who have surrounded their days with death. The sanctity of death, the fragility of life are honored by experiencing both in the most fundamental way, day in and day out. Through the vernacular of food, markets and animals, we can discuss the larger issue. Wok the Dog is about the cost of living. As I travel from country to country, the subtle differences in the gender, economical and social dynamics of each culture becomes clear. The market place transforms into a micro-cosmos of that particular culture, nation. “Wok the Dog” is a humanistic project of our most instinctual needs, our oldest traditions. “Wok the Dog” is a series in progress, a comprehensive study of markets around the world. By the end of 2010, I had photographed 21 countries, 82 cities and have another estimated 19 countries to go.