Ambiguous Standards of Food: Overspecification [video artwork]

<p dir="ltr">The video work for the artwork "Ambiguous Standards of Food: Overspecification".<br>Exhibited in 4th Istanbul Design Biennial [2018] and in the exhibition "<a href="https://doi.org/10.17028/rd.lboro.28498073" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">An Institute Within An Institute</a>"<br>Since the 1950s, the number of objects designed for overtly specific tasks has increased considerably, especially in the kitchen. Today, we are exposed to an overwhelming number of apparatuses; for the removal of the head and strings in string beans, peeling tops of okra fingers, slicing eggs, and more. However, to be appropriately processed by these hyperspecific objects, the food must be of a specific size, shape, or firmness. In fact, all of these special operations could be accomplished with a simple kitchen knife, which, besides being cheap and handy, requires almost no instruction and does not discriminate against a fruit or vegetable that falls short of industrially imposed standards.</p><p dir="ltr">Contents (31 objects listed in alphabetical order): apple core remover, avocado slicer, banana slicer, boiled corn grater, butter curler, cake server, cake server fork, carrot sharpener, chestnut scraper, chip chopper, dough folder and sealer, egg de-sheller and separator, egg slicer, falafel maker, lemon sprayer, lemon squeezer, lid opener, okra peeler, orange peeler ring, pasta slicer, pit remover and slicer for fruit, pit remover, pot-pan handle, potato spiraliser, screw-press garlic crusher, spring-operated walnut cracker, string bean slicer and cleaner, stuffed vine-leaf wrapper, sugar claw, tea tong, vegetable preserver lid.</p>