Art Buffet in Three Lamps
Art
Buffet in Three Lamps is a community art project in Macau using
patchwrok as a medium to encourage people in that community
participating in art creation.
The
idea of making patchwork of dishes was first initiated by Pila, a
brillant Indonesian artist friend. We had a joint exhibition focus on
food at Taipei Artist Village in 2008 and she proposed we
collaborated on the workshop of making patchwork as dishes. We had
known each other from a residency together in Western Australia the
year before and both were fond of many similar issues and things,
such as food, plants, environmental concerns and needlework. She
helped me with a videotaped interview with a few Australian old
ladies who made wonderful patchworks and 2 traditional brick builders
in the same community.
When
I was invited to organize a workshop for community people in Macau by
the Cultural Affairs Burreau, I thought about how to find an easiest
method for people who had no art-making experience to get start. So,
making patchwork as food becomes a best choice. My consideration is
food comes from everyday life, so it's not a strange thing to the
participants, the same as fabric, that can dispel the fear and
irrelevance of art making with these people. However, combining the
two will result in a new sense of feelings that enhances the
appreciation of art and brings about a sense of accomplishment and
self-confidence.
The
project was overwhelmingly welcomed, partly due to the thoughtfulness
of my project partner and collaborator – Point View Art
Association, and their considerate helpers. Participants of the
workshop all come from the neighborhood of Three Lamps, an old
district famous for its gourmet cuisine as well as a fabric market
street. My project partner made many trips of interviewing with the
resturants there, documenting the history and stories of these
resturants. Many of the owners were migrants from Southeast Asian
countries. They brought in colorful food cultures.
We
set up 3 workshops, working with all ages. The outcome was great.
There are 8 tables of gorgeous food, 7 pieces of dishes displayed at
resturants, and one specially designed for the Association of
Beneficial and Mutual Assistance at Moradores of Bairto O Tai. The
participants include parents and children, grandmas and young people.
Their works show a glimpse into the local flavour and taste.
Many
of them said this is the first time they put hands on patchwork, but
they enjoy it very much and feel proud of their own work. Some kids
even developed interests and asked for more scraps of fabric to make
new works at home.
The
openning night was very touching too. Besides the usual offical
speeches, participants were encouraged to stand on stage and share
their artistic experience. Many old ladies on wheelchair were
gathering around our tables, examining the works more closely. Those
tables then were moved to the exhibition site of Travessa de Martinho
Montenegro. The show will be on until Dec 8.
News report on Macau Television (TDM) : http://www.tdm.com.mo/c_video/play_video.php?id=16075
Macau Web TV : http://www.good.com.mo/?s=516
News report on Macau Television (TDM) : http://www.tdm.com.mo/c_video/play_video.php?id=16075
Macau Web TV : http://www.good.com.mo/?s=516
Webpage : http://artbuffet.pointviewart.org/
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