Information
Exhibition
2024
Food color, handmade lasagna
I came to New York in August 2024 to begin my studies. In this so-called birthplace of freedom, I was fortunate to witness the country’s once-every-four-years presidential election. During the campaign season, I bought a six-dollar copy of The New York Times every day, curious to see how America’s election culture differed from that of Taiwan.
The 47th presidential election was full of dramatic events: Trump was shot during a speech in July; a journalist captured an image that many called a “masterpiece of freedom leading the people”; Republican morale soared; the Democrats replaced Biden with Kamala Harris as their candidate. The Rust Belt’s history was reignited with the entry of the Republican vice-presidential nominee, and both parties fiercely fought over the swing voters in the middle—one event after another unfolded in rapid succession.
And yet, I think, perhaps none of this will be remembered. It’s just a speck of dust in the vast universe—like a plate of spaghetti in New York, easily forgotten once consumed. In this age of information overload, even the most monumental events are digested and discarded by ordinary life, much like fast food—quickly consumed, then passed through.