The subversive art of cooking

This portrait of President Obama is made out of breakfast cereal. The artists, Hank Willis Thomas and Ryan Alexiev, say this mosaic represents what a healthy, balanced democracy should consist of. Photograph: Phaidon

Yaya Chou used 2,500 jelly sweets to create this decorative light fitting. Photograph: Phaidon

As part of a campaign against food waste, Russian artist Dimitri Tsykalov uses fruit and vegetables, such as this aubergine, to carve skull sculptures. This work, Skull III, is from 2008. Photograph: Phaidon

Mosaic artist Jason Mecier makes a portrait of actor Kevin Bacon from 6.8kg of… bacon. Photograph: Phaidon

Lebanese artist Ginou Choueiri carves portraits of famous people, friends and family into potatoes. Photograph: Phaidon

Jason Mecier uses various types of rice to make a portrait of former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. Photograph: Phaidon

Food sculptor Paul Baker used a full English breakfast of sausages, bacon, scambled egg, hash browns and crumpets to create this tribute to the Beatles' Abbey Road cover. Paul is made entirely of mushrooms to reflect his vegetarianism. Photograph: Phaidon

Local Times by artist Kevin Van Aelst uses crackers as clocks to keep up with the rest of the world. Photograph: Phaidon

When Philip Levine went bald, he began to use his head as a canvas. Photographer Daniel Regan and body artist Kat Sinclair have created hundreds of designs that are featured on his head. Photograph: Phaidon

Dimitry Taykalov's image showing military uniforms and guns made from meat. The bloodiness of the meat makes a powerful statement. Photograph: Dimitry Taykalov/Phaidon

Hot With the Chance of a Late Storm is the name of this ice-cream truck sculpture by the Glue Society. Photograph: Phaidon