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As a work of art, it's about as avante-garde as it gets. A British artist has recreated a series of bizarre last meals chosen by actual death row prisoners on the day before their execution.
James Reynolds filled orange prison-issue trays with some of the most unusual items the murderers asked for - like a single black olive or an onion and two bottles of coke. Another inmate requested fast food from KFC while another asked for an array of fruit including a pineapple, a mango and a coconut.
One of 23-year-old James's creations, dubbed 'Last Suppers', shows a tray loaded with six raw eggs, a bread roll and a cup of coffee. And another prisoner asked for a single doughnut and a chocolate milkshake.
James, from London, got the idea for his collection after reading a book that listed some American death row inmates' final meal choices. He quickly set about finding out more about each prisoner including what crime they committed, where they were incarcerated and exactly what they asked for.
He found they were allowed anything to eat up to a $40 limit.
James, who works for an advertising agency, said: 'I found the list of some of the things that inmates had chosen in Schott's Food Miscellany. 'I was fascinated by why they were chosen and by who. 'I think the choices made by the prisoners reflect their personalities and their mindset before their death. 'It's interesting to think about why they chose certain meals.
'Did they choose the meal because that's what they had missed most while being in prison, or did it remind them of happier times or childhood meals? 'Or was it just what they felt like at the time? Many inmates rejected the offer of a last meal, as they probably had other things on their mind.'
The 23-year-old said most of the meals requested by the inmates were fast food staples like McDonalds, KFC or Burger King. But some requested more interesting items like an unpitted olive or a cream cracker.
James said: 'Burgers, French fries, Coca-Cola, McDonalds and KFC are the most common but I found the slightly more unusual meals much more intriguing.
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