Join JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles for a special co-presentation with Sing For Science. Inspired by the themes explored in our current “Looks Delicious!” exhibition, this live recording invites audiences into a dynamic conversation about how artistry, perception, and imagination shape the way we understand—and crave—food. To complement the program’s exploration of sensory experience, guests will also enjoy Van Leeuwen ice cream, a sweet nod to Lucius’s song “Ice Cream.”
The program features the acclaimed Los Angeles–based band Lucius, known for their intricate harmonies and collaborations with artists such as Harry Styles and Brandi Carlile. Their song “Ice Cream”—which delves into nostalgia, sensory pleasure, and emotional texture—forms a natural connection to the exhibition’s celebration of visual delight and the whimsical world of Japanese food representation. Joining them is Dr. Ladan Shams, Professor of Psychology, Bioengineering, and Neuroscience at UCLA, and one of the world’s leading experts on multisensory perception. Her research into how the brain integrates sight, sound, taste, and memory offers scientific insight into the very processes that make hyper-realistic food models so captivating.
Guided by podcast host and producer Matt Whyte, the discussion will explore how perception, creativity, and cultural representation intersect—echoing the craftsmanship and sensory artistry at the heart of Japanese food replica culture. This collaboration introduces JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles to Sing For Science’s broad international audience, furthering both organizations’ missions to foster cross-cultural understanding through creativity, design, and sensory experience.
Sing For Science is sponsored in part by a grant from the Simons Foundation.