The kitchen can be progressively perceived as a stage in which acts of performing, entertaining, preparing, cooking and sharing food become isolated performances for family or guests. The traditional spatial separation between cooking and eating has dissolved, allowing food preparation to become an increasingly social activity, a shared experience between the host and guest. The changing role of the kitchen and the way it is experienced inspired this project. These set of tools are redesigned kitchen utensils each informed with themes drawn from the entertainment sector. They extend from and amplify the entertainment and social value of cooking.
What could entertainment be in the kitchen?
Popping Board
Once the top is elevated following chopping, the disguised poppers go off filling the room with colour and surprise.
Sharing spoon
A stirring game that requires team effort. Users must share the stirring process and synchronise their movements or else the sharing spoon fails to cooperate.
Balloon Masher
Mash Mash Message. Pass it on. Each balloon reveals a different playful message.
Salt and Pepper Maracas.
Bringing music to the cooking process and possibly over seasoning if one gets carried away! Both maracas share the same colours creating deliberate comic confusion for the guest.
Squeaky Mitts.
Applying minor pressure to these mitts creates a high pitched squeak adding humour to the cooking process through their element of surprise.
A short film demonstrating the use of these tools through a dinner I hosted. Videographer: Tara Tate.
PROCESS
A short documentary showcasing my research into the entertainment sector. This involved visiting the circus and watching and interviewing street performers, magicians and chefs who perform.
Selected pages of my sketchbook. Click the images to enlarge them.
