Benjamin Li In Search of Perfect Orange

Foam 3h presents In Search of Perfect Orange, a playful exhibition by Rotterdam-based conceptual artist Benjamin Li. Through his work, Li explores themes like identity, belonging, labour and cultural heritage, using food as a lens through which to delve into these complex subjects. The exhibition setup takes inspiration from the 'Chinese-Indisch' restaurant, a culinary genre partially shaped by the colonial history of the Netherlands.

Since 2014, Li has visited over 1,000 'Chinese-Indisch' restaurants across the Netherlands, creating an archive of menus, tableware, and personal stories. Through photography, video, sculptures, and puzzles featuring images of 'Chinese-Indisch' dishes, he explores the richness, variety and charm of these restaurants. However, for Li the restaurants represent more than just culinary enjoyment; they symbolize his family's resilience and a broader journey towards integration for the Asian diaspora within Dutch society. Many of his relatives, including his parents, have worked in restaurants to build a life in their new homeland. Through his art, Li honors these establishments, though often misunderstood, highlighting their cultural and historical significance. In doing so, his work challenges stereotypes and prejudices faced by Asians in the Netherlands, focusing on identity, representation, displacement, foodways and a sense of home.

His recent publication, the Chinese-Indisch Restaurant Stickeralbumwhich will be part of the exhibition, invites the public to engage with this heritage in an interactive way, encouraging the collection and exchange of stickers that celebrate it. The exhibition centers a large round table featuring a rotating art piece inspired by halma, which is commonly known best as Chinese checkers. The pawns of the game resemble roses carved from carrots, paying tribute to a practice by Li’s father. Through this immersive setup, Li's work navigates the delicate balance between exposing the absurdity of certain stereotypes and fostering a reappraisal for the beauty and heritage of the 'Chinese-Indisch' restaurant.

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