This playful exhibition by conceptual artist Benjamin Li draws inspiration from the 'Chinese-Indisch' restaurant genre. Through photography, video, and sculptures, Li explores themes of identity, belonging, labor, and cultural heritage, using food as a lens to examine the Asian diaspora's integration into Dutch society.
Benjamin Li's 'In Search of Perfect Orange' is a conceptual exhibition that delves into the rich cultural landscape of the 'Chinese-Indisch' restaurant, a culinary genre significantly shaped by Dutch colonial history. Since 2014, Li has amassed an extensive archive of over 1,000 'Chinese-Indisch' restaurants across the Netherlands, documenting menus, tableware, and personal narratives.
Through a diverse array of mediums including photography, video, sculptures, and puzzles, the exhibition showcases images of 'Chinese-Indisch' dishes, highlighting their variety and charm. For Li, these restaurants represent more than just a culinary experience; they are potent symbols of his family's resilience and the broader journey of integration for the Asian diaspora in the Netherlands. Many of his relatives, including his parents, have worked in these establishments to build a new life. This exhibition honors these often-misunderstood spaces, emphasizing their cultural and historical significance while challenging stereotypes and prejudices faced by Asians in the Netherlands, focusing on identity, representation, displacement, foodways, and the concept of home.