exhibition

Foam 3h: Benjamin Li

In Search of Perfect Orange

In Search of Perfect Orange is a playful exhibition by Rotterdam based conceptual artist Benjamin Li. The exhibition setup takes inspiration from the 'Chinese-Indisch' restaurant, a culinary genre partially shaped by the colonial history of the Netherlands. Through his work, Li explores themes like identity, belonging, labour and cultural heritage, using food as a lens through which to delve into these complex subjects.

Nr.88 Babi Pangang met Patat, Taria De Neushoorn, Dordrecht, 2024 © Benjamin Li.
Spread from Chinees-Indisch Restaurant Stickeralbum by Benjamin Li with untitled work from family archive © photographer unknown / courtesy of the artist.
Nr.25 Tjap Tjoy met Cha Sieuw, Azië, Boxmeer, 2022 © Benjamin Li.

About the exhibition

Since 2014, Li has visited over 1,000 'Chinese-Indisch' restaurants across the Netherlands, creating an archive of menus, tableware, and personal stories. Through photography, video, sculptures, and puzzles featuring images of 'Chinese-Indisch' dishes, he explores the richness, variety and charm of these restaurants. However, for Li the restaurants represent more than just culinary enjoyment; they symbolize his family's resilience and a broader journey towards integration for the Asian diaspora within Dutch society. Many of his relatives, including his parents, have worked in restaurants to build a life in their new homeland. Through his art, Li honors these establishments, though often misunderstood, highlighting their cultural and historical significance. In doing so, his work challenges stereotypes and prejudices faced by Asians in the Netherlands, focusing on identity, representation, displacement, foodways and a sense of home.

Spread from Chinees-Indisch Restaurant Stickeralbum by Benjamin Li with untitled work from family archive © photographer unknown / courtesy of the artist.

About Foam 3h

Foam 3h is a project space in the museum where recently graduated artists and photographers are invited to present their first solo museum exhibition. For this space, Foam selects national and international artists who are challenged to experiment, surprise and push the limits of photography.

Press office

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The exhibition is made possible by DLA Piper, the Van Bijlevelt Foundation, Mondriaan Fund, Kleurgamma and Oschatz Visuelle Medien.