Chunbo Zhang, a Chinese artist based in Chicago, explores cultural contrasts in her “Food Treasure” series by blending elements of American cuisine with traditional Chinese porcelain motifs. In these acrylic and watercolor paintings, she portrays foods like cheeseburgers and deep-dish pizzas with buns and crusts adorned in intricate ceramic patterns. This fusion highlights the juxtaposition between the indulgence of American dietary habits and the refined aesthetics of ancient Chinese artifacts.
Zhang began this series in 2018 after moving to the United States, using food as a lens to understand and adapt to a new culture. She found American dairy products challenging to digest and desserts overly sweet, prompting her to reflect on the differences between her native Chinese cuisine and American food. By painting these culinary items with porcelain designs, she emphasizes contrasts such as hard versus soft, raw versus cooked, and ancient versus modern.
The “Food Treasure” series delves into themes of cultural identity and adaptation. Zhang raises questions about how consuming American foods might influence one’s cultural self-perception and the importance of cultural identity in an era of globalization. Her work prompts contemplation on whether different cultures clash or can harmoniously merge, using the universal experience of food as a metaphor for broader cultural exchanges.
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