I must admit to not having spent a single cent for tickets at the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA). None this year. Nil last year. And zilch for the last decade or so. Yet I had just stumbled on one of its exhibits. Located at the Victoria Concert Hall / Victoria Theatre Atrium, Shiok!? You Are (Not) What You Eat by Singaporean visual artist Yang Derong is free of charge. So, I have still spent nada.
This art installation challenges us on what we love best - eating. But are we eating right? Or are we eating rubbish? Is what we eat environmentally sustainable? Or are we contributing to the destruction or degradation of planet Earth? The exhibit brings together objects of plastic - actual toys, decorations and kitsch - as an indictment of our eating habits. We are consuming plastic like never before, and in the process ingesting indigestible microplastics.
Many of the articles on display are familiar and quaint, many from the collective memories over the decades. Nostalgia and regression to childhood times is strong, and that is what makes this exhibit memorable. We are comforted by its familiarity and friendliness, but are repulsed by what all this actually means. Every time we eat, and everything we consume adds to the end of the world. That is a frightening thought, but Carry On Makan anyway.
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| The walk-in giant kaleidoscope was a very nice and colourful touch. |
Another thought just occurred to me. So, so much plastic here. How to recycle and with absolutely nothing biodegradable, how to dispose? Our landfills are filling up quick, so let's just donate them to Indonesia.
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| To be found and consumed at your nearest HDB kopitiam. |
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| What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice, and all things nice. |
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| And little boys? Sotong, kup poh and lew lian. |
This exhibit runs till 30 May 2026.
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