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Fusion cuisine became trendy in the 1980s. All of a sudden classical French dishes like foie gras were served with ginger, and today no-one would even blink twice upon seeing a sushi burrito or taco pizza on the menu. But has this cheerful fusion of cuisines also helped migrants from these different cultures in their integration? When Lu Lin (1992) moved from China to the Netherlands to attend an art academy for a Master’s degree, she mainly felt displaced. By means of her socially committed work she is trying to deal with this sense of alienation. It focuses on basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter, thereby exploring what is needed to create a place where you can feel at home, a safe space.
The installation Out of Blue Dinner (2024) shows the setting Lin created for Homesick Restaurant (2020-ongoing). This is a nomadic restaurant where people are invited to cook and eat together which she set up in collaboration with chef Tanyatorn Lauwanichpat. Lin: ‘Through the project we explore the potential of food and cooking to bring about social change.’ The title Out of Blue Dinner refers to the fact that migrants are often regarded as people who arrive out of the blue. The tableware and table cloth, which play a dominant role here, are inspired by typical Dutch tea towel. Lin’s work is thus encouraging us to think about what integration truly entails and how dominant cultures can shape and influence multicultural experiences.
Text: Esmee Postma
Translated from Dutch by Marie Louise Schoondergang (The Art of Translation)