Art Bento
藝術便當
2014
Art Bento was an art project that through the behavior of vending bento on the spot of Taipei Free Art Fair, I intended to prompt reflection on the difficult scenario when capitalism expansion and art market liberalization accelerate nowadays. It addressed the dilemma faced by artists who have been active capitalism critics that how they could be involved as part of this tremendous capitalist system while keep their ground solid and observation keen to prevent themselves from being co-opted by it.
This project responded to the history of Huashan 1914 Creative Park—it was used to be a charge-free and bustling playground for contemporary art experiment, and later transformed into a cultural and creative park busy with commercial activities—meanwhile, it also questioned back at ourselves that as artists what we’ve criticize and held in control?
Within this project, I found a buffet restaurant near Huashan 1914 Creative Park, invited them to serve bento boxes for lunch and dinner at one of the booths during the period of Taipei Free Art Fair. Every bento boxes was stuck with the sticker written “ART”, and all of the sale proceeds went to the restaurant owner. I really hope this very first time experience could inspire them with new ideas for their products.
(This is a rough translation of the original in Chinese)
This project responded to the history of Huashan 1914 Creative Park—it was used to be a charge-free and bustling playground for contemporary art experiment, and later transformed into a cultural and creative park busy with commercial activities—meanwhile, it also questioned back at ourselves that as artists what we’ve criticize and held in control?
Within this project, I found a buffet restaurant near Huashan 1914 Creative Park, invited them to serve bento boxes for lunch and dinner at one of the booths during the period of Taipei Free Art Fair. Every bento boxes was stuck with the sticker written “ART”, and all of the sale proceeds went to the restaurant owner. I really hope this very first time experience could inspire them with new ideas for their products.
(This is a rough translation of the original in Chinese)
藝術便當是一個透過在藝術自由日現場販售便當的行為來反思在資本主義擴張與藝術市場的自由化下所面臨的困境，尤其對於批判資本主義不留餘力的藝術計畫而言，面對一個不斷收編的龐大系統，如何讓自身所提出的觀點在進入系統的同時維持活力，成為一道難題。
這回應的不僅僅是華山文創園區曾經作為一個免費且活絡的藝術家實驗場，而後變成商業化的文創園區，最後再透過藝術自由日的活動暫時將空間還給藝術家的歷史，同時也是一個對於藝術計畫自身的疑問，究竟我們批判（掌握）了些什麼？
在這個計畫當中，我找了一間位於華山文創園區附近的自助餐合作，請他們在藝術自由日舉行期間的午晚餐時間，來藝術自由日劃分給藝術家們的攤位上販售上面貼有「藝術」兩字貼紙的便當，最後這些販售便當的所得全數交給自助餐老闆，期待在藝術現場展出的全新經驗能夠協助她們研發出新的便當。
這回應的不僅僅是華山文創園區曾經作為一個免費且活絡的藝術家實驗場，而後變成商業化的文創園區，最後再透過藝術自由日的活動暫時將空間還給藝術家的歷史，同時也是一個對於藝術計畫自身的疑問，究竟我們批判（掌握）了些什麼？
在這個計畫當中，我找了一間位於華山文創園區附近的自助餐合作，請他們在藝術自由日舉行期間的午晚餐時間，來藝術自由日劃分給藝術家們的攤位上販售上面貼有「藝術」兩字貼紙的便當，最後這些販售便當的所得全數交給自助餐老闆，期待在藝術現場展出的全新經驗能夠協助她們研發出新的便當。
Huasshan1914- Creative Park, Taiwan, 2014