Escape

Homogenisation does not only exist in cultural convergence, but also in tools, nature, and society.

Just as tools all have uniform instructions and ways of using them, so more uses are overlooked. Plants and animals in nature use each other's protective colours and so on.

The project began as an escape from homogenisation and after a series of experiments and research, the theme was an escape from the way chopsticks are used.

Because the environment in London is different from the chopstick-using countries in East Asia, there is no one to teach the correct way to use chopsticks. Through the public events, it was found that those who had been taught by foreign students or foreign restaurants tended to follow the correct way of using chopsticks in East Asia, while those who had never used chopsticks before were able to find their own way of using chopsticks very quickly.

Similarly, a parallel study in East Asia provides insights into the familial transmission of chopstick usage, discrimination because of the so-called incorrect way, and so on.

In undefined environments, we don't need to be conscious to escape. And in a unique environment, the subconscious mind will bind us and become more homogeneous.

The same output of three publications consisting of small, medium and large sizes, each documenting chopstick instruction manuals, photographic documentation and the most frequent dialogues and different ways of using them that emerged during the research.

Publication

Year: 6 December, 2023‏