BITTER LIVING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

Project Description

Modern technology and postindustrial food inventions have altered not only what we eat but how we eat and how we absorb, both physically and psychologically what goes into our mouths. My three-part multi-media installation Bitter Living Through Technology examines food as a mediating agent within our society and how its role has changed through the modern influences of technology and corporate culture.

The Omnivore’s Pleasure is a culture jamming of a cooking show inspired by Michael Pollan’s book The Omnivore’s Dilemma which explores the ethical, chemical, political and ecological factors of our food production and food choices. The video will simulate a food network style program that, on the surface, appears to be about the aesthetics and enjoyment of food. As a counterpoint, is footage that demonstrates the health and environmental repercussions of our current food supply and agricultural practices.

Eat This is an audio, video and olfactory interactive installation. The audience will sit down at a dining room table that has a monitor embedded into the entire surface area of the table-top. A video composed of images of all the meals I've eaten since January 1, 2007 (an ongoing endeavor) will be projected onto the monitor from above. The audio will be recorded conversations with people about the role of food in their lives. Artificial scents that "flavor" our food supply will be pumped into the air surrounding the vicinity of the dining room to explore the relationship of manufactured smells and their association with our memories of taste.

38 Degrees of Separation is a video installation that looks at the relationship between technology and consumption through the lens of the refrigerator. A now ubiquitous appliance, this invention has altered the methods by which people purchase, store and ultimately consume the food they eat since it perpetuates and fosters our reliance on packaged and frozen goods. The piece will be viewed within a modified refrigerator augmented by an Max/MSP patch that will commence the rear-projected video onto a monitor within the appliance when the door is opened.

Production Timeline and Project Budget

Budget

The total budget request of $5000 will go toward building and modifying the refrigerator and dining room table, purchasing the artificial scents, a scent dispersion system, directional microphones, rental fees for the kitchen studio, programmer fees for max/MSP work.

Table, Refrigerator, Rental Fees: $2000
Scents: $1000
Audio, Scent and Video Equipment: $2000
Programmer: $250

Timeline

May-July: build and modify refrigerator and table, shoot video for Omnivore's Pleasure, acquire scents
Aug-Oct: compile data and video for refrigerator and table pieces, edit all video work
Nov-Jan: incorporate max/MSP patch into refrigerator piece, test and integrate mechanisms into table and refrigerator

Curriculum Vitae

link

Work Samples

The Omnivore's Pleasure

Eat This