This was a dinner meal I prepared for my family in the winter of 2013. At the time, I was visiting them at home in Hong Kong for a few months. I challenged myself to cook about 3 to 4 dishes every night for a month without repeating any dishes. My daily routine in preparing the dinner would involve grocery shopping at around 4pm, looking for fresh produce at the wet and super markets for inspiration and dinner was usually ready by 7pm. About two weeks into the cooking, I was more confident in handling different ingredients and inspired to cook more complicated dishes. Cracking open a live crab and cooking it was something I learned through watching others in real life cooking and with the help from Youtube and Google.
Through the documentation of preparing food, the video plays on gender roles, expectation and anticipation. I hope to bring attention to the subtle serve relationship and invisible domestic labour that goes into production.
Through the documentation of preparing food, the video plays on gender roles, expectation and anticipation. I hope to bring attention to the subtle serve relationship and invisible domestic labour that goes into production.
How to open a crab from Olivia Chow on Vimeo.
How to open a crab
2013
6m41s, single channel video
2013
6m41s, single channel video
