The Buffet, 2021
The concept and visual tone of The Buffet is based on Taiwanese culture and aesthetics. In past decades, Taiwanese society has had the habit of producing items with the main concern of utility and lower-cost and little consideration for its exterior appearance, resulting in the development of its own distinct aesthetic. Outrageously-ugly tables and screechy metal chairs that are iconically seen at Taiwanese weddings, festivals, and traditional restaurants are featured in this video. The context is inspired and has loose allusions to Mahjong, a four-person game that involves dice, wits, and chance.
The narrative is intended to be critical of social hierarchy and gender. The term “feminism buffet” is commonly used in Taiwan as a malicious metaphor, implying how some women would cherry-pick the benefits of being female and use it to their advantage while disregarding the equality of men, as if selecting food at a buffet. It has resulted in the association of feminism with negativity and condemnation towards individuals advocating for women rights, a phenomenon that I think should be examined and discussed.
