Breakfast Table

2021, CCA, MI

Photography: Philip Tian, Breanne Johnson

The term Dadaism has a range of meanings and can signify nothing at all. Dadaism encompasses various art forms, yet it is an approach that is fundamentally anti-art. In response, I wanted to create anti-dishes that don't pretend to be art but rather celebrate their unassuming aesthetic in humble imperfection. Beauty is revealed in seemingly impossible places in these imperfections - an imperfect perfect, non-functional moment.

While at Cranbrook, I started a project called "The Breakfast Table" which aims to create a platform for people to come together and enjoy meals after the pandemic. The project is a research study that examines our daily eating habits and table activities. It explores new methods of serving food and presenting it in different ways. These dishes become active when food is placed on them, adding a lively touch to the dining table.My first attempt at this kind of design was to create ceramic plates, bowls, and vessels from two-dimensional designs to bring them into three-dimensional reality. Although all the ceramics had the same neutral color, their three-dimensional shapes were active and far from plain. Could the interaction between the tableware and the food evoke emotions? Could the plates provide anything without food, and could a plate without food attract food like a blank canvas attracts paint? The tableware didn't require food to activate it, and its mere presence was enough to stimulate one's imagination. The attractiveness of it was self-evident, and it didn't require nature's assistance to enhance it—an accomplice.