Week 7: Proposals

Statement

In Part One, I had observed and participated in a café, a space involving a wide range of social interaction, while inserting myself in the middle of it, alone. I wanted to look into the idea of bonding over food, but within my own zone. I wanted to intervene in a space that is easily accessible to me, in the case that lockdown may intervene with my proposals. I also wanted to see how those who are close to me, may react upon these proposals.

I have chosen my dining room as the site for my proposal, a space in my household where there is the most happenings. I want to look into the experience of occupying, eating, and exchanging over food, as I believe food is what creates social space. With this in mind, I want to change the space with a combination of experiences and objects. My family will be the participants of this proposal, as they are the main occupants of the house.

Why bring my family members into this?
My family members are often stuck in their own lives, all working within their own schedules. This compensates for the lack of interaction as a family, as we all retreat to our own spaces at the end of the day, barely having a leisurely conversation with one another. It is during a meal that we come together as one, but even then there is a tinge of awkwardness and silence during those moments.

Why is this important?
As a family we are often lacking in communication, and I am using my proposals as an opportunity to address these issues. I aim to create a moment where we take a break from our own schedules to spend quality time, even if it is just a few minutes. Although I am expecting hesitance, lack of interest, and rejection, I am hoping that my attempts will bring awareness to my family members.

I aim to consider questions I would normally turn a blind eye to: Why do we have our own “assigned seats”? How does a change in the space affect the exchanges? Will it strike up a conversation? Will my family react positively/negatively to the sudden changes? Why is the dining table the place for most happenings? I want to look into the social aspect of “bonding over food” within my own space, and whether my family will become inspired, or reject these proposals in the future.