Introduction
We are what we eat. Or are we? Food is not only closely linked to our survival as it provides energy, but it also bridges the gap in one’s relationship. Writer D’Aluisio American (2014) once wrote“ the joys in life are to break bread with friends, to reap a harvest from the earth, to know where our food comes from, and to cook and eat good food together.”
Food is more than just a fuel for our body. It can bring people together to create bonds by conjuring the similarly fond emotion of a particular food. It can break the cultural barrier by introducing one’s cultural significance to another. Food is an integral part of our history and culture.
Food can be a means of communication when people share meals. Eating can be an event where family gatherings, business meetings or even state dinners occur. But for the most inner core of our social circle, eating can be the occasion to give and share with our beloved and trusted ones. It can be the expression of intimacy and selflessness, from father to daughter, mother to son to friends to friends. Food enables us to embrace our relationships and connect with human beings by bringing us closer together.
Intention
The approach of the collection is the exploration of people’s preference of food by looking into their fridges or cupboards. Considering their cultural similarities, one can still expect a slight difference. Their cupboards tell a story of their own. Some people may use the storage for canned food and only order takeaways for meals while others may store mostly jars and bottles of sauces and condiments. The food and the way we eat represent our
own identity. ‘Food is like clay; you can sculpt with it. Also it has an odour, and you can eat it. I don’t eat a lot of cake, but I do make cakes! And unlike the Campbell’s Soup Cans, my food is a humanised form and scale. (Oldenburg, 2015)’ - Claes Oldenburg
For my own project as I was born and raised in a different country hence a different eating habits. My purchasing behaviours and cooking styles differ as well. For example, British may be used to have a meal deal or a small and cold sandwich for lunchtime yet I need hot food. Even though the lunch hour in the university is very limited, I still prefer hot meals, may it be a porridge. A comparison of how Asian and British eat and cook can be a potential for the project. For instance, Asians are being more receptive to eat offals in addition to meat, such as animals’ hearts or livers.
Publication
