Salty processed pork in a can. Sold in 41 countries on six continents, SPAM is at once a household name and the butt of the joke. In this joke is where artist shuang cai found inspiration for their latest event, SPAMtember, showing at All Street Gallery in Chinatown at 119 Hester Street.
cai first learned of SPAM over an international call with their mother when they were four. Their mother described eating Chinese hotpot with her classmates in the dorms – using SPAM as a key ingredient. Unsure of what the product was, cai found their mind filling in the gaps with multiple imagined versions of the elusive “SPAM.” Upon learning what SPAM really is, cai was intrigued by how their mind was able to think up so many alternatives to what it could’ve been. Years later in their kitchen, cooking a dish from their Korean hometown, Budae Jjigae (Army Stew), cai found themself cooking with the ingredient that had been such a mystery to them such a short time ago. Inspiration began to burst out of the sizzling SPAM.
The creative world can be a place that lends itself to anxiety and mental blocks, with those participating often finding themselves ever striving for something that feels out of reach. SPAMtember is carving out a space to transform moments of creative anxiety into the humorous and thought-provoking through symbols of cultural identity.
Leveraging the humor innate in the memeable brand, cai asked 18 artists to explore this popular product in innovative ways. From reimagining the iconic can to creating pieces with seemingly no relation to SPAM using the product itself, this event is nothing short of playful and surprising. The combination of curatorial humor and unbounded creativity naturally led to a deeper conversation about post-war colonialism, cultural resistance, and power reclamation.
Including lighthearted works that were made over only one week in September, SPAMtember is aptly named: this open art-a-thon/make-a-thon takes inspiration from the ubiquitous canned meat, SPAM. This event goes beyond the typical “art-making marathon” by incorporating a themed structure and embracing the principles of open-sourced collaboration.
SPAMtember is on view at All Street Gallery’s Chinatown location (119 Hester Street, New York, NY, 10002) from December 20-21, 2023. The opening reception will take place on December 20 from 7-9pm.
About shuang cai
shuang is a multimedia artist, curator, and writer. Their art practices focus on logics, interactions, and humor. Their curatorial works aim to bring forth the power of interconnectedness and diverse voices across communities. They hold a Bachelor’s degree from Bard College double majoring in Computer Science and Studio Art and a Master’s from New York University Interactive Telecommunication Program(ITP). Currently, they are the Curatorial Director of LATITUDE Gallery and Research Resident at ITP. They were an editor of Adjacent and have curated shows at LATITUDE Gallery, theBlanc, All Street NYC, and Joy Museum (Beijing). They will be the curatorial fellow at NARS Foundation in 2024.
Written by Kate-Pride
Kate-Pride is an Atlanta-raised Brooklyn-based writer focusing on music and community. She is involved in various creative pursuits including the artist collective known as All Street.
