GastroGeography: Singapore Biennale 2016

GastroGeography of Singapore, an art project revolving around the idea of "belonging", explores unique tastes and aromas of the wild flora native to the island of Singapore. 

The project is inspired by GastroGeography (coined by the Singapore Biennale Creative Director, 2016) and created by the Mamakan Art Collective: Danish-born, Singapore-based artist Mamakan with contributions from Singaporean artist Steve Chua, Singaporean entrepreneur/writer Laletha Nithiyanandan, Danish artist Mette Langebaek and several local botanists/biologists.

“I’m a traveller who is interested in food. This combination of food and art, with additional ‘seasoning’ of history, both of Singapore and Singaporeans, plus agriculture, is unusual. Food usually focuses on restaurants and/or markets, but this goes in a whole new direction. Is it foraging as performance art? Definitely not. To my knowledge, it’s something completely new.*” South China Morning Post, Hong Kong

The aim is to open our eyes and realise that food is everywhere, we just need to look for it. Mamakan is a philosophy that focuses on the sensed connection of food with places and people with stories.

The theme of "GastroGeography" refers to the complex relationship between food and place, culture and nature. We build connections with what we eat and where it’s grown. In short - “GastroGeography of Singapore” - is a play of location and identity, thus tying in with the Biennale’s theme of An Atlas of Mirrors in the context of contemporary Singapore.

The artwork for the SB 2016 presents two installations and eight artist tours with tastings and maps featuring native plants, fruits and herbs growing in the heart of Singapore.

Food forms our earliest memories. Eating is part of our shared history.  Fine dining reflects our cultural aspirations. 

"GastroGeography is one of the highlights of the Singapore Biennale". Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore

What would the fine dining scene of Singapore tell you about our cultural aspirations: an import culture of French foie gras, Italian truffles, Japanese Wagyu and Chinese shark fins?

Is Singapore still trying to catch up to the perceived sophistication and modernity of the North and the West? Is a self-image based on homegrown produce being less worthy than the produce from foreign soils? 

Are we so blinded by the promises of far-away glamour that we miss out on the unique abundance of tastes yet to be discovered nearby?

What if we should wake up from the blindness? What if a “GastroGeoMap” would lead us to new paths of meaningful memories? 

What if tasting food from one’s neighborhood could bestow us with a deeper sense of “belonging”?