ORIGIN STORY
Cacio e Pepe was born on the heels of a 6 hour meal and arguably too many negronis. What started as a fun creative project evolved into something quite different: a front row ticket to the force of channeling. A five year process from launch to publishing, this project was birthed out of a shared love of food and a deep curiosity for this thing we call life.
From the decision on which food should represent each of the 78 tarot cards to crafting the write-ups to the artistic execution, we can only call this project what it was: channeling. This project has been the backdrop through many phases of our collective lives. From falling in love to heartbreak, from miscarriages to childbirths, from pandemics to ragers, from moments of low-integrity to deep seas of evolution. Working this closely with tarot, and in such close partnership with each other, all while creating something “un po’ pazzo” [a little crazy], has forced us look deep inside, to always work in practice and to know thyself. At the core of it, Cacio e Pepe Tarot was ultimately made to support ourselves.
WHY FOOD
Because tarot can feel tricky and food can help us digest it. Because there's something about food that elicits technicolor memories and ineffable feelings. These emotions can help explain and understand the intricate messages of tarot. In turn, the powerful world of tarot allows us to give full credit to the majesty of food.
What it is not is a commentary on food, nor about what foods are good, bad, healthy, who gets them, or who doesn’t. What Cacio e Pepe is is our first step towards refusing to demonize food, to stop taking food for granted, and to have some laughs on the absurdity of it all. We hope it helps you deepen your relationship to yourself, your relationship with food and to the magick power of tarot.
ART & PHOTOGRAPHY
The photo collage concept began as an attempt to pull the ideas out of our heads and put them into a visual context. The initial tools were an x-acto knife and cutting mat. The artwork is a blend of mostly hand-cut collage with some digital photo collage. Many of the photographs are our own, for others we utilized Unsplash’s general creative license and then purchased licenses for other photographs. For certain works, we were gifted license to use from actual food photographers (thank you for the oyster, Greg Dupree!). Specific image details are available upon request at popcorn@cacioepepetarot.com.