Food is a rich source of complex meaning – it speaks of our culture, our country, our climate, our traditions, our practices, our passions and people – little wonder it is emerging as a significant theme in the My Tribe Open Exhibition.
Among my favourite food works is the image and text “Contributor #3: Charlene” (pictured) by contributor ssa6789. The dish, called Yu Shang, brings people together – to the same plate, even – at Chinese New Year. To me it adds another layer to the old saying that ‘the family who eat together stay together’.
Comfort food steeped in memories of home and hearth also loom large in My Tribe. The table is laden with kaya puffs, roti tissue, chicken rice, melted soybean milk and grandma’s salty fish.
For a completely different take on the connection between food identity, community and belonging check out ‘My Faces’. It is a series of three photographic portraits created using food. The images are reminiscent of Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s famous 16th century painting Vertumnus – depicting a face made by arranged fruit and vegetables. In the notes to the work the artist explains how we see stereotypes before the person;
“My interpretation of MyTribe is that people are thrown into ‘groups’ without any consideration of them as a person. … we judge, we categorise and I believe, we misinterpret.”
And if you find yourself in the area, you should try having “Breakfast at Taks” by Tadashi Nakamura – a warm and intimate video documentary about LA café owner Mary, and the community of regulars who frequent her tables.
Among my favourite food works is the image and text “Contributor #3: Charlene” (pictured) by contributor ssa6789. The dish, called Yu Shang, brings people together – to the same plate, even – at Chinese New Year. To me it adds another layer to the old saying that ‘the family who eat together stay together’.
Comfort food steeped in memories of home and hearth also loom large in My Tribe. The table is laden with kaya puffs, roti tissue, chicken rice, melted soybean milk and grandma’s salty fish.
For a completely different take on the connection between food identity, community and belonging check out ‘My Faces’. It is a series of three photographic portraits created using food. The images are reminiscent of Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s famous 16th century painting Vertumnus – depicting a face made by arranged fruit and vegetables. In the notes to the work the artist explains how we see stereotypes before the person;
“My interpretation of MyTribe is that people are thrown into ‘groups’ without any consideration of them as a person. … we judge, we categorise and I believe, we misinterpret.”
And if you find yourself in the area, you should try having “Breakfast at Taks” by Tadashi Nakamura – a warm and intimate video documentary about LA café owner Mary, and the community of regulars who frequent her tables.
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