Benjamin Li - Forty Nr. 39
A journey of flavours that celebrate the legacy of Chinese-Indonesian cuisine
Benjamin Li visited over 1,000 Chinese-Indonesian restaurants across the Netherlands to document these culinary spaces. His artwork examines how food and dining establishments serve as bridges for people to engage with their cultural heritage and community.
“Food is a very strong medium… it can remind you of something that is not tangible, but that you very much can feel.”
In this video, Benjamin introduces, Forty Nr. 39 (2014-2016). At first glance, it features forty Chinese dishes from different restaurants, all labelled as '39.'. Benjamin creates Forty Nr. 39 after a dismissive comment by Gordon, a judge on Holland’s Got Talent. Gordon asks a Chinese contestant, "Are you going to sing number 39?" He means it as an insult. But Benjamin sees it as a chance to celebrate Chinese cuisine instead. Benjamin highlights a variety of dishes, including Chinese-Indonesian, dim sum, and Chinese-Surinamese. It serves as a playful response to Gordon's remark and a heartfelt tribute to the richness of Chinese-Indonesian food culture in the Netherlands. How can we turn negative comments into opportunities for celebration and understanding?
All Directions
This artwork is part of the exhibition All Directions. In this exhibition you discover more about identity and happiness, about crossing borders and being forced to flee, about saying goodbye and coming home. Read more about All Directions.
