‘INTERDINE’ & ‘FORGOTTEN MESSAGES’
as a part of ‘Daddy’s Dinner’413 BETA, Seoul, South Korea
by Jacky Jaan-Yuan Kuo, Jinbin Chen, and Bobby Yu Shuk Pui
21st Jun 2024—7th Jul 2024
Installation view of ‘Daddy’s Diner’
‘Interdine’, wood, hinge, fabric, incense stick, Joss paper, holder, artificial flower, eyedrops, earplugs; 80 x 8 x 13 (cm)
‘Interdine’, wood, hinge, fabric, incense stick, Joss paper, holder, artificial flower, eyedrops, earplugs; 80 x 8 x 13 (cm)
Close-up of ‘Interdine’
‘Interdine’, wood, hinge, fabric, incense stick, Joss paper, holder, artificial flower, eyedrops, earplugs; 80 x 8 x 13 (cm)
Close-up of ‘Interdine’
Installation of ‘Forgotten Messages’ (left)
‘Forgotten Messages’, fabric, stainless steel wire; dimension variable
Installation of ‘Split’ (right), photograph, keyring, plastic card holder, fabric; dimension variable
Installation of ‘Split’ (left), photograph, keyring, plastic card holder, fabric; dimension variable
(Photo documentation by Lee Saeng)
My works encompass sculptures and image-based objects, evolving from the narrative themes of his parallel exhibition currently showcased at Tenthaus (Oslo, Norway). In this new series, I draw inspiration from the deity and ancestor altars prevalent in his family home, using them as metaphors for transgenerational representations. These works explore the coexistence and shared dining moments of various living individuals (visible) and parallel beings (not always visible) gathered within the family. Through this exploration, I highlight the contradictory and seemingly inseparable moments of family reunions, offering a nuanced insight into these intimate yet complex interactions.
The exhibition space of 413 BETA is located on the second floor. As spectators pass through the stairwell, they encounter four small sculptures resembling table leg covers. These sculptures lack table legs and tabletops (in contrast with the site-specific table installation at Tenthaus), resembling loosened talismans, or scattered old socks. The patterns on the fabric leg covers also echo the tablecloth patterns of the table installation at Tenthaus, appearing as messages left behind after a gathering.
Entering the exhibition space on the right, there are two tabletop sculptures embedded in the walls, shaped like partially folded round tables, surfaces awaiting reunions. Grid-patterned fabric covers one of them, and its tabletop holds 3 boxes of eye drops and incense sticks wrapped in transparent plastic bags. In contrast, the other is covered with lace fabric and transparent plastic sheets, adorned with scattered earplugs and artificial flowers. These are parts of the round table, resembling corners of altars in a family, invisible or awaiting future communal dining moments.
Textitle support:
Lucas Vallejo;
Techinal support:
Joanna Chia-Yu Lin
Support:
Office for Contemporary Art Norway—OCA
(Exhibition text by Tenthaus)
In the past three years, Tenthaus have marked the Pride Month of June through works of Nayara Leite, Maya Økland and Ventura Profana. This year, we present ‘Daddy’s Dinner’, by Jinbin Chen, Jacky Jaan-Yuan Kuo, and Bobby Yu Shuk Pui. Through their collaborative perspectives, we bring the discourse of migration, displacement, queerness and belonging onto the family dinner table.
The project consists of two exhibitions produced by Tenthaus – one at Tenthaus (Oslo) and another mirrored at 413BETA (Seoul) as part of [The OVEN: URGENCY] project. The exhibitions present a collection of new artworks, incorporating films, sculptures, paintings, installations, and objects arranged within family-oriented spatial settings.
The three artists migrated to Norway from Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan. They explore how gendered and hierarchical family roles in East Asian patriarchal cultures impact identity and family values. Despite geopolitical differences, their shared experiences of patriarchal dynamics, which they call ‘dinner-table politics,’ reveal complex family power struggles.
‘Dinner-table politics’ metaphorically represents the power dynamics and relationships in intimate settings, where food-sharing depicts love and care. Conversations and tensions at the dinner table often prioritize man-speaking, exposing underlying anxieties and power imbalances shaped by societal norms, cultural traditions, and individual personalities
Bobby Yu Shuk Pui’s new short film shares their three family stories and experience through recipes; Jinbin Chen’s paintings and painterly objects reflect the gap between the public facade of family life and its true essence; and Jacky Jaan-Yuan Kuo’s large-scale installation transforms the gallery into a ‘domestic drama,’ exploring how domestic spaces, rituals, and dining practices establish familial power dynamics and observation.
‘Daddy’s Dinner’ is a poetic exploration of the ties that bind us.
The exhibition features an artist talk on 1 June at 14:00 at Tenthaus, moderated by Norwegian Craft project and communication manager Marthe Yung Mee Hansen.
The exhibition is curated and produced by Tenthaus, supported by Oslo Kommune, Norske Billedkunstnere, Kulturdirektoratet, and the National Culture and Arts Foundation (Taiwan).
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Entrance of 413 BETA, exhibition poster designed by 413 BETA/ Yunik Kim
Installation view of ‘Daddy’s Dinner’. Video work by Bobby Yu Shuk Pui
Installation view of ‘Daddy’s Dinner’. Video work by Bobby Yu Shuk Pui
Installation view of ‘Daddy’s Dinner’, painting work by Jinbin Chen
Installation view of ‘Daddy’s Dinner’, painting work by Jinbin Chen