food

McDonald’s ‘artistic’ contest winner sparks debate online

46 Comments
By Rachel Tackett

Earlier this month, McDonald’s Japan announced the grand prize winner of its Big Mac Award Art Contest. The results inspired a great deal of online debate, as is often the case with topics as subjective as art and design. What the judges see as artistic and inspired might look like a mess to the greater masses. Read on for a taste of the juicy reactions to this creative burger art.

The theme of the art contest was the Big Mac, as implied by the award’s title. The grand prize winner was chosen from roughly 1,400 entries by a panel of judges including multiple members of McDonald’s artistic marketing team.

The winning piece is called Big Mac Store by 27-year-old Yuri Ikeguchi. Using colored pencils, she made McDonald’s front counter into the likeness of a burger. The colors create a warm and gentle atmosphere that is quite charming. However, the simple style and uneven lines have led many people to criticize it as low-quality art.

Here are just a few of the contrasting opinions being posted:

-- “Um, ok…” -- “Apparently, they wanted something that looked drawn by a five-year-old.” -- “It’s awesome!” -- “So bad I died laughing.” -- “I could never draw cool crap like that, so I’m kind of impressed.” -- “Cute!” -- “Looks like something that’d win the Big Mac Grand Prix, but I’m having trouble picking out its good points. I thought at first that it was drawn by a kid, but nope.” -- “I don’t understand art.”

Already, the piece has begun appearing on McDonald’s trays, carryout bags, and other packaging in restaurants across Japan. If you ever come across it, do judge for yourself the value of this art piece. And, if you happen to agree with those who find it lacking, you can revel in the act of tossing it in the garbage at the end of your meal.

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Photo Contest Offers Awesome Prizes for Photos of Japan -- Chinese Bootleg DVDs Improve on Originals in Every Way -- Japanese Model Crowned “Miss International 2012″

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46 Comments
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Interpretate this comment however you like: but I think this drawing is indicative of most Japanese modern art forms, ie pop media.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

Some might even call it graffiti!

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

From an artistic point of view, I can't say whether it is good or bad, but I must admit it looks more like an elementary school kid's art project than something draw by a 27yr old.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Some may argue that Jean-Michel Basquiat's works resemble that of an elementary school kid, but others would say he is a genius. However, this particular piece of art, in my humble opinion, is crap.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

"...the simple style and uneven lines..."

Sounds very Japanese to me. A bit of Japanese pop art combined with a tradition of not being "perfect".

0 ( +4 / -4 )

“So bad I died laughing.”

If you are dead, why are you posting?

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

A wonderful depiction of saturated fat, chemicals and god knows what else.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Put some real food on the menu....

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

I saw this in the store the other day and also thought that it was drawn by an elementary school kid. Had a great laugh to find that it was done by an adult. I'm really curious as to what the other submissions were like if this one managed to win. They could have released them online for the public to vote on.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Looks just about as sloppy as their burgers!

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

It looks like a kid made this.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

I produced something like that at home recently, only to be told by my 5 year old daughter that I was shite at drawing (or words to that effect). I guess McD diners could try eating the art-adourned tray liner if their fillet-o-cardboard doesn't satisfy.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

perfect match to the quality of food...it would be impossible for them to associate mcd to something better anyway...this fits just about there

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The winning piece is called Big Mac Store by 27-year-old Yuri Ikeguchi.

Does the winner have, er, "developmental problems"?

0 ( +4 / -4 )

I guess art doesn't necessarily have to be pleasing to everyone's eyes, as long as it's intriguing to everyone's eyes... have to admit though, it's intriguing to me how this piece of $@?# took first prize. Is it possible that the judges didn't know how old the artist was during their selection? Maybe they thought a child drew it, picked it as the winner, and later found out it was drawn by a 27 year old?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

I'm hatin' it.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

Art is in the eye of the beholder.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

My 4 year old can draw better than that.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

art? its more like scribbling or doodle. Where I came from, this thing will win heap of abuse and ridicule. what an untalented artist...the judges are worse though

0 ( +3 / -3 )

oh wow stop with this "good art is entirely subjective" crap, not one user on here so far has said anything positive about it, we all know that it's crap.

Do you really think that people spend thousands of dollars training in the elite art schools around the globe to draw like THIS? are you serious?!

2 ( +4 / -2 )

First of all, congratulations to Ms. Ikeguchi. The concept is very imaginative and the final form has a child-like quality that is very charming. A few things come to mind, not the least of which is the quote from a Mel Brooks movie about how the birth of art is soon followed by the afterbirth of the "art critic." (It would appear that an artist must never try to represent something as seen through the eyes of a child.)

This is the most uniform set of negative criticisms I have encountered about an art contest since Maya Lin won in 1981 with her proposed design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

"it's crap"

One man's crap is another man's treasure, ha ha

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Basically the Art must appeal to Children the market that Mac Donald's sell too That is it in a nutshell so it is good p r.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The drawing is great, Yuri! I'm proud of you! Don't let yourself be trolled by critics!

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Did they change the recipe for a Big Mac® in Japan? That sure looks like ketchup on that slice of cheese and you don't find "ketchup" anywhere in "Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun." SPOILER ALERT! (The "special sauce" is McDonald's-code for Thousand Island dressing.)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Must be embarrassing to get that fame... Please, tell me she's not a real person but some PR staff with a bogus profile.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Not a fan of this drawing. I agree I'd like to see what it was competing against.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Unfortunately the image is too small to see and judge properly. However, from the view I have, it looks quite funky & suggests more than just a store or a burger. There's also a happy "face" in the drawing, a great deal of excitement & motion to entice the eye. The colours too evoke a buoyant, up-beat (happy feeling) with what seems a small touch of gray-blue (maybe not quite as happy) on the hat of the employee. I like it. A lot. I don't eat at McD's, but the drawing is lovely. Congratulations to the winner! (She needs to know that someone has enjoyed her creative spark--the contrary opinions of professional artists and armchair critics notwithstanding.) I hope she won a lot of money (and not burgers).

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

There's also a happy "face" in the drawing,

Assuming the red blotch on the "counter" represents the mouth opening, what I see is a fanged scowl - not a "happy face".

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Thanks Zichi for that link to see the other entries. :>)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

while this is not to my taste and it does indeed look like crap like the real thing; believe it or not this piece of "art" was by done by a pro. For other works of similar "art" click here http://ikeguchiyuri.com/news/

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Any publicity is good publicity. Donald McDonald thanks you.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Her art is pretty clear, what you see is what you get! Crappy food!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

My 4th form art teacher told me I drew like a child and when I told her "it's not my bloody fault" she sent me to the headmasters office to receive punishment for swearing. End of budding artist. If feel really cheated now, only I'd known, I could've been a star, that pot of gold under the golden arches was waiting for me!

Please, let's put aside these harsh words before some other great doodler is sentenced to a career of engineering, or some such similar fate.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The carryout bag is cute.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

After checking out the other finalists, I can say with full confidence that hers was the worst entry out of the lot.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

You all think Mickey D's wants to appeal to adults? Your hooked already, they want kids so this packaging makes perfect sense. Great marketing.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@Spud if you really thought that kind of drawing appeals to kids, why don't cartoons look that shitty?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I agree with most of you saying that this more of a child's drawing rather than a 27 years old's. If you want see more mature Mcdonalds work of arts check the link below. It is more appreciable than this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6uXbHYQClQ

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Don't matter what's on the cover, I still refuse to eat that junk. It's nothing but a slab of grease between two pieces of fake bread with some plastic looking cheese and other questionable ingredients on top of the slab of grease.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Who cares what kind of illustrations McD puts on their bags? What a lot of hot air about nothing.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

That's ok..I could never understand the genius of Picasso either.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

After looking on the "artist"'s website, I can openly say that I hate people like her and the garbage the dare to call art.

All it deserves is ridicule.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The article must have a mistype---should be "by 2.7-year-old," not "27-year-old."

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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