HANQI LI
BIO&CV
Bread Manifesto
Bread Manifesto exhibited on the London College of Communication (2023)
Against the backdrop of the Ukrainian crisis that led to a rise in energy prices, some bread shops in Europe are facing a serious threat to their survival. The cost of food in the European Union has jumped by nearly 16%, while in the UK it has risen by over 14%, with energy prices surging by around 40%. In protest against the rise in energy prices, some shop owners have started closing their shops, not only to save energy, but also to raise awareness about the severity of the issue through this silent protest.
This project aims to reflect on the overlooked and vulnerable social issues that have been affected by geopolitical conflicts in Europe by simulating the main processes involved in bread-making. The steps involved in operating the bread-making machine (whisking, kneading, fermenting, baking) and the bread evidence that be reprocessed reveal how the complexity of raw material production, energy supply, geopolitical relations, and public life issues have been repeatedly overlooked behind the most basic necessity of life, bread. And the use of black ink, which is a symbol of energy leaves random traces on the evidence of bread during the continuous processing, serving as a metaphor to reveal the hidden stories behind bread prices. The only certainty is that the public bears the ultimate burden of conflict.entary on the issues facing the bread-making industry and the broader impact of the energy crisis on public livelihoods.
The developments of the installation.
More details about the GOOD INTERVENTIONS PARSONS:
http://sds.parsons.edu/designmanagement/students/bread-manifesto/