01.

pad thai

Thai Fried River Noodles

Rirkrit Tiravanija

Exhibited: 1990

Venue: Paula Allen Gallery, York

Since the 1990s, Tirawani has combined his artworks with an ethic of social engagement, often inviting viewers to inhabit and activate his work. Tirawani rejects traditional artwork altogether, instead cooking and serving food to exhibition visitors. His use of cooking and food as a medium was questioned by the general audience, which momentarily struggled to accept such an artistic concept. Not all visitors truly realized that the act was an art form, and some saw it as merely a catering service.

In this seemingly simple conceptual work, Tirawani invites the viewer to interact with contemporary art in a more social way, blurring the sense of distance between artist and viewer. No longer are you only looking at the art, but you become a part of it. What's more, when you are eating food and chatting with a friend or someone you just met, you are creating art.