Cultivating Tastes
Image placeholder — project documentation to be added
The work seeks out ancient stories from around the world, cultivating relationships with diverse local communities who share their cultural and personal connections to food. It celebrates the cuisine that has traversed continents to be enjoyed through the rich culinary traditions of Melbourne; recipes are compiled and flavoursome plants cultivated.
Suitcases fecund with the plants that season each dish are installed in unexpected sites. They pinpoint the provenance of the corresponding recipe and explore the issue of food sovereignty.
Acknowledging four of Banyule’s less prominent, but steadily growing cultural communities — Iranian, Malaysian, Somali and Vietnamese. Many thanks go to Farideh Azadi, Margaret Ong, Hamdi Ibrahim, and Dr Tien Huynh for their generosity in sharing their favourite recipes and the stories behind them.
Presented as part of the Pinpoint public art festival, installed across Banyule in September–October 2018.