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‘DISCOMFORT FOOD’
by Lu Lei
21 – 24 August
Fitzrovia Gallery is thrilled to announce the solo exhibition, “Discomfort Food” featuring the thought-provoking work of Singaporean artist Lei Lu. This exhibition delves into the rich histories and our relationships to food as reflections of culture, identity, and personal narratives.
Every plate, dish, and meal encompass a rich history. From the cultural to the familial and the personal, food is universally recognized as the core of human sustenance and comfort. In many cultures, food serves as a marker of identity and a vessel for tradition. However, these culinary practices can also highlight cultural tensions and conflicts. Lei Lu’s reflections on food reveal how it can both nourish and disturb, comfort and disconcert, offering a transformative exploration of relationships, nostalgia, culture, and identity across a diverse array of mediums.
Food sharing transcends mere sustenance; it is an intimate act of love and connection that speaks volumes without a single word uttered. This collection of works delves into the complex relationship between food and human experience, challenging viewers to confront the unease that often lies beneath the surface of our culinary practices and traditions.
Through installations, video documentation, and mixed media, Lei Lu’s work prompts viewers to consider their personal connections to food and its impact on their lives. Her series This is Illegal in Singapore (Diam Leh!) (2022-) presents recipes as essays translated into food, highlighting how meals can communicate complex cultural narratives and personal histories.
As writer George Orwell noted in “Why I Write”, “The opinion that art should have nothing to do with politics is itself a political attitude.” Food is inherently political, and an exhibition that delves into the discomfort related to food cannot avoid political implications. Lu’s work underscores this by engaging with themes of immigration, nationalism, and identity, often using her body as a vessel for subversive acts of political and social commentary. The works Retirement Manifesto (20??) and What gives you the entitlement over my morality? (2024) present the criticisms and resistance the artist had faced in the process of her practice and research.
Lu’s upbringing as a second-generation immigrant was marked by constant reminders and labels both at home and in school, which left her feeling disconnected and lacking a sense of grounding. This experience led her to adopt a mindset of denial, avoidance, and pretence. It was this embodiment of personal experiences that drew her to the realm of performance art. By using her body as a vessel, she creates subversive acts of political and social commentary. Her research and artistic practice are deeply influenced by her personal experiences of navigating the tensions between nationalism and identity, as present in I Love My Country (2022). She is particularly intrigued by the role and context of language – including accents and creoles – and how they intersect with other aspects of culture, mirroring this dynamic explosion to fusion cuisine as the lingua franca of food.
On an individual level, food is intimately tied to personal history and memory. For some, certain foods evoke childhood nostalgia, while for others, they may trigger trauma or discomfort. Lu’s pieces, I Love You (2019) and I Love You Too (2020), present deeply personal narratives that explore the dual nature of food as both a source of joy and a reminder of past struggles. These works invite viewers to delve into their own food-related memories and the emotions they evoke, challenging them to contemplate the intricate connections between food, culture, and identity.
Join us for this transformative exploration that challenges you to contemplate the intricate connections between food, culture, and identity. Experience how food, beyond mere sustenance, can serve as a powerful medium for artistic expression, cultural dialogue, and political commentary.
If you could be represented by a dish, what would you be?
