“This is my meal, I call this, Girl Dinner”: Contemporary Art Remix
In our fast-paced modern world, let's be honest; there are moments when we yearn for the simplicity of snack-style dinners. As the renowned millennial chef Alison Roman aptly acknowledged on her popular YouTube channel, Home Movies, in her July 2023 video titled "Apero Hour," which indeed revolves around the concept of having snacks for dinner. But let's not stray too far from the main point.
The term "girl dinner" first gained prominence on TikTok during the summer of 2023, driven by a viral video that introduced this innovative dining concept. However, the roots of this concept run deep, drawing similarities to the antipasto platter, charcuterie board, or even the humble British pub classic, the ploughman's lunch.
The fusion of this ephemeral digital trend with the timeless realm of contemporary art is a captivating thought. The unexpected harmony between the 2023 TikTok trend "girl dinner" and the world of artistic expression has ignited an intriguing discourse on consumption, culture, and the profound interplay between modern life and artistic creation.
Let's begin by dissecting what "girl dinner" truly signifies and why it might be perceived as problematic. At its core, the essence of a "girl dinner" lies not only in its individual components but also in its embodiment of modest portions. By associating this meal with the term "girl dinner," the trend encourages us to challenge gender-based stereotypes regarding lighter eating habits. It's worth noting, though, that while a "girl dinner" consists of several small components, collectively, a "girl dinner" plate can be quite substantial. Regardless, while the term is often associated with women's food choices, it transcends gender boundaries. The phrase "girl dinner" is not inherently controversial, but its usage can be problematic depending on the context and intent behind it. The controversy typically arises from concerns related to gender stereotypes, sexism, and the reinforcement of traditional gender roles.
The seamless convergence of the "girl dinner" trend with contemporary art, whether intentional or not, is rooted in food's historical role as a conduit for artistic expression. This history spans from ancient rituals to contemporary experiments, forming a sensory journey that underscores the ever-evolving connection between sustenance, symbolism, and the human creative spirit.
During the Renaissance, still-life paintings flourished, showcasing artists' technical finesse as they meticulously captured arrays of fruits, meats, and objects. These depictions, often laden with allegorical meanings, conveyed themes of wealth, transience, and mortality.
The Dutch Golden Age brought forth intricate still lifes where painstakingly depicted food items shared canvas space with vanitas symbols, provoking contemplation about life's fleeting pleasures. The modern era introduced novel interpretations, such as Salvador Dalí's surreal renderings juxtaposing melting clocks with food and Pop artist Andy Warhol's elevation of everyday food items into cultural icons.
Contemporary art continues to evolve, with food serving as a lens for exploring cultural identity, consumerism, sustainability, and pleasure. Artists like Jen Munroe, renowned for her experimental food art, push culinary boundaries, while Canadian artist Chloe Wise, seamlessly weaves food into her narrative, foreshadowing the "girl dinner" trend in her 2017 Almine Rech exhibition, "Of False Beaches and Butter Money."
The intensity of the 2023 TikTok trend is palpable in contemporary art. Artists like Ugo Li, Elisa Alcalde, Ann May Henry, and Aimee Ruoff have harnessed the essence of "girl dinner," by exploring food by way of the still life genre and it’s links to consumption, culture, and identity. Here are some examples of how the current work of these emerging artists underscores the trend's ability to bridge the divide between viral sensation and profound artistic reflection:
Ugo Li's 2023 oil on canvas painting titled "Finger Food" perfectly encapsulates the essence of a "girl dinner." Li, a Franco-Chinese painter born in Paris in 1987, participated in the “Feast” exhibition at the Reuter Bausch gallery, where he presented tables inspired by his dual cultural background. Through opulent dishes and scenes of shared meals, his work captures the essence of conviviality, even in fast-food settings. His vibrant use of colours brings out rich details. This artistic approach reflects the current trend of celebrating communal dining experiences and cultural diversity in contemporary art.
Elisa Alcalde, a Santiago-based painter who started working with watercolours in 2012, primarily explores the still-life genre. Her 2023 watercolour painting titled “tabla acuarela” is a tablescape of the quintessential “girl dinner” type plater. Her focus in the ordinary, the beauty of everyday items often highlights food and how it serves as a place to find companionship within solitude.
Ann May Henry, a Canadian artist known for her unconventional approach to still life art, concentrates on portraying ordinary foods and common objects to explore themes like our connections to location, social class, and memory. Through her work, she candidly addresses issues such as the challenges of a precarious job market, the personal difficulties of adult life today, and the continuous quest for belonging, healing, and self-love. As part of the trend, "girl dinner" was humorously used to refer to "meals" consisting of a single snack food, inedible objects, or nothing at all. Ann May Henry's common objects, such as food boxes from the Canadian white-label discount brand, evoke this dimension of the trend.
Similar to Ann May Henry and Elisa Alcalde, Canadian artist Aimee Ruoff also draws inspiration from the still-life genre, often weaving food into her canvases that capture unexpected glimpses of everyday life—moments like the sun shining through a window, a plush chair, a beautiful bouquet of flowers, or a sumptuous summer tablescape adorned with food. These fleeting, ethereal moments serve as reminders of life's impermanence and the importance of finding presence in the small, sublime aspects of the mundane.
This interplay between art and food and art and society resonates deeply. As TikTok trends merge with visual expression, it serves as a reminder that art isn't merely a mirror reflecting our world; it's a dynamic force actively shaping our ongoing conversation. The journey of the "girl dinner" trend, transitioning from a digital novelty to a canvas for contemporary contemplation, exemplifies how the boundaries between the virtual and real, trend and art, are increasingly blurred in our interconnected universe.
Aimee Ruoff, Oil on Paper, 12 x 16 inches, 2023
