In Still Life: Longing, I create a still life informed by the gaze of displacement and nostalgia. I also wanted to emphasize how early colonial economies still inform modern global foodways. Presenting it as an installation within a commercial refrigerator was key to recalling the industrial mechanisms of global commerce and exchange. The selection of objects is also of significance. I wanted to collect from whichever city I am in (in this case, Baltimore) and buy what I can from what is locally available. I specifically chose fruits, vegetables, and other goods that speak to what I love and relate to my Philippine upbringing. The selection also represents the extent of availability of Philippine goods within a certain area. Some goods, like the corned beef and Tocino Spam, point to outside culinary influences and may not be Philippine-made but their significance to the community and my ideation of the Philippines is enough to be included.
Still Life (Longing) Installation #1
2023
Commercial refrigerator containing goods purchased at Baltimore H-Mart: rambutan, bangus, green papaya, jackfruit, a can of corned beef, a can of Tocino Spam, banana heart, mangoes, calabaza, eggplants, sugar canes, ampalaya, and banana leaves
Still Life (Longing) Installation #2: Baltimore City/North Avenue
2025
Custom digitally printed tablecloth and wallpaper; still life containing goods purchased from Baltimore City Asian food stores: mangoes, taro root, assorted Filipino chips, Tocino Spam, Toyomansi, spiced vinegar, haw flakes, eggplants, Dutch sugar cookies, canned liver pate, fake hotdogs on skewers with marshmallows, White Rabbit candy, locally sourced wooden food display.
EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS, Station North, Baltimore, MD.
Photographer: David Sloan
Still Life (Longing) Installation #3: Baltimore City/Motor House
2025
Digitally printed tablecloth and wallpaper. Still life with cinder blocks containing goods purchased from Baltimore City Asian food stores: mangoes, chilis, chayote, assorted Filipino chips, spiced vinegar, haw flakes, canned liver pate, biscocho, White Rabbit candy, and more. Cafe tables set up with paper and tempera paint sticks. Frames used for displaying finished still lives.
Exceeds Expectations, Asia North, Baltimore, MD
Photographer: David Sloan
This iteration of Still Life (Longing) invites visitors to draw the still life on display. Finished still lives are then displayed on the provided frames hung on the wall. A sip and paint event taking place in the installation was also part of the exhibition programming.
Still Life (Longing) Installation #4 – Baltimore City/The Club Car
2025
Two still lives containing goods purchased from Baltimore City Asian food stores: assorted Filipino chips, spiced vinegar, haw flakes, canned liver pate, biscocho, chocolate tabletas, White Rabbit candy, and more. Fake hot dogs, miniature cinder blocks, bamboo skewers, custom print paper.
Exceeds Expectations, Asia North, Baltimore, MD
Photographer: David Sloan
