Food has been an important subject matter in art throughout history. But can chefs also be considered artists?

CookBook is an exhibition in Beijing that pushes the limits dividing the kitchen and the studio, blurring the line between food and art. It is an experimental playground for chefs and artists.

Participants are asked to express themselves using mediums outside of their comfort zone, challenging themselves to do the opposite of what they normally do. Andrea Petrini, curator of CookBook, said it would be a "failure" if visitors can identify the professions of the artwork creators.

Danish chef Rene Redzpi collected hand prints from his restaurant staff and incubated them so visitors could take a magnified look at the germs – unseen to the naked eye – on the petri dish.

The invisible germs go hand in hand with the fermentation techniques applied in cooking at Redzpi's restaurant Noma. The good bacteria and fungi in Noma's kitchen transform the flavor of foods, giving diners a complex and flavorful gastronomic experience.

Chef Esben Holmboe Bang, also Danish, believes that scents have the unique ability to unlock emotions and forgotten memories. For his artwork, he encapsulates silk-woven fabrics with odors such as vanilla ice-cream, strawberry bubblegum and banana milk to remind the audience of scents associated with their childhood.

Adding Chinese flavor to the CookBook is quite important.

Chef Li Dong from Beijing's Jing Yaa Tang, which recently received a star from the Michelin guide, presents his culinary philosophy with "Today's Menu". This set of photographs compare and contrast the modification of Li's recipe from the original, giving visitors a clear picture of the new ingredients used in his fusion of Chinese cuisine.

Chef Yang Jun from the Shanghai-based Nan Lu Zhe Li presents his signature dish "Gold Medal Pork". The golden 3D-printed sculpture is an embodiment of Yang's career achievements. It is his first time taking part in such event and he thinks that there is a lot for him to learn in terms of creative art.

Are chefs artists? Is food art? Regardless of the answer, the chefs participating in CookBook push at the limits dividing the kitchen and the studio, taking us on an adventure into the world of food and art.