An ongoing artistic project by Chu Hao Pei, part of his long term inquiry into cultural and political nuances of rice.
2024
Nasi Goreng Diplomacy (NGD) is an ongoing artistic project by Chu Hao Pei, which is part of his long term inquiry into cultural and political nuances of rice. NGD looks at food diplomacy in the form of nasi goreng (fried rice) and is inspired by the former Indonesian President Megawati's use of nasi goreng to deescalate tensions with her political rival. NGD attempts to advance non-official and bottom up diplomacy with various grounded communities in Southeast Asia using nasi goreng. It employs the common dish as the entry point to further difficult conversations and defuse tensions in view of better relations.
Each session features a host from one Southeast Asian country, who will prepare their country's version of nasi goreng. Participants will be involved in the process of preparing the dish, and through conversations reflect on how food politics across national and global boundaries impact everyday life.
Chu Hao Pei is a visual artist whose practice explores the shifting physical, sociological and emotional connections with our natural and urban landscapes. His works shed light on the overlooked and accidental by interweaving the processes of engagement, documentation and research to examine the complexities of environmental and cultural loss (or resurgence) shaped by political, economic and social factors. Find out more here: https://chu-haopei.tumblr.com/
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First presented and commissioned by Sri Lankan artist collective, The Packet, for Serendipity Arts Festival 2023, Nasi Goreng Diplomacy is an ongoing artistic project by Chu Hao Pei. Hao Pei was an artist-in-residence at Practice Tuckshop in 2024.
