In any culture, food transcends just the basic act of sustenance. It is a symbol of heritage, a bridge to shared experiences, and a vessel of memories. However, as intimate as our relationship with food can be, it remains deeply personal. While communities are bound by collective food memories, every individual nurtures a unique bond with their culinary encounters.
The COVID-19 pandemic redefined many norms, notably our experience with food. Gone were the days of sharing meals, leading to a solitude many hadn’t encountered before. This change was the muse for artist Silas Fong Sum-yu’s exhibition, “SAD Kitchen: Oi! Guide – A Comfort Food Journey”, at the Oi! art space in North Point.
“SAD”, in this context, represents the School of Artists Development, Fong’s artistic exploration of arts and education through various mediums. With this exhibition, the spotlight was on ‘comfort food’. Intriguingly, as Fong observed, the English term has no direct translation in Chinese. This led him to embark on a journey to explore this universal yet intimate concept.
During the pandemic, he reached out to artists and acquaintances, requesting them to share their go-to comfort food recipes. Despite the physical distance, the shared culinary experiences, facilitated by social media, resulted in virtual dinner parties. One of the exhibition’s central pieces, a video installation, captures this experience. As Fong expresses, delving into these recipes and the attached personal tales served as a reminder of the shared human experience of melancholy.
The exhibition invites visitors on a culinary journey, segmented into ‘wash’, ‘cook’, and ‘eat’. The interactive nature of the display breaks the conventional barrier between art and observer. While some elements, like the operational refrigerator, tether the visitor to reality, others, like the 3D printed food items and appliances, add a layer of whimsy.
One of the standout elements of the exhibition is the “Comfort Food Psychological Test”. A playful nod to popular personality tests, this interactive quiz offers an opportunity for introspection, subtly infused with nostalgia. Many questions draw directly from Hong Kong’s unique culinary landscape, echoing the shared experiences of locals.
On completion, participants receive a food-themed card, curiously dubbed the “Comfort Food Guide”. This isn’t just an artistic touch. The guide offers actual food recommendations from establishments around Oil Street, covering a range of items from contemporary espresso concoctions to time-honored local desserts.
Further encouraging community involvement, attendees can jot down their recipes, which don’t necessarily need to be culinary. Selected submissions get a spot on the “SAD Kitchen Comfort Food Share Board”, cementing their contribution to the shared narrative.
The “SAD Kitchen” is more than just an exhibition. It is an experience rooted in community, memories, and the human condition. By using the universal theme of food, Fong crafts an immersive journey that resonates with both the collective and the individual. It reaffirms Oi! Art Space’s commitment to emphasizing local culture, subtleties, and, most importantly, its people.
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