granny's meal — yixuan zhu

Granny’s Meal

2023 -- 2024

This project is not only a tribute to our grandmother but also an expression of emotion. By combining textile techniques, interactive design, and cultural symbols, we created a work filled with warmth and memories. Through the use of Arduino and Max programming, the project incorporates an interactive installation that allows the audience to trigger memory-related sounds by activating pressure sensors. This design fosters an emotional resonance, enabling viewers to experience the depth of personal memories while enhancing the emotional layers and universality of the piece through interaction. The work is deeply personal, yet the use of technology makes these memories more tangible and accessible, creating a shared space for recollection.

Inspiration

Christy and I completed this project together, inspired by our shared experience — both of us lost our grandmothers in recent years. Our grandmothers played an incredibly important role in our lives, giving us countless warm memories. However, as time passed, we began to notice some of those memories fading, leaving us with an indescribable sense of loss. We understand that memories gradually fade over time, but we didn’t want our grandmothers’ memories to disappear completely. So, we decided to create this project to preserve those precious moments with them, especially during the times when those memories began to blur.

Research

This project is deeply personal, as it draws from our own experience of loss. The idea emerged from a conversation between Christy and me, as we reflected on our grandmothers and the sensory experiences we associate with them. We identified five senses—taste, smell, hearing, sight, and touch—that were key to our memories of them. These senses triggered vivid recollections of our grandmothers' laughter, their cooking, their favourite clothes, and even the way they smelled. The more we talked, the more we realized how memories fade over time, and how important it was to preserve those moments before they were lost entirely.

As we researched, we found that memory is not static. It evolves and adapts based on the environment and context in which it is recalled. We looked into various artworks that explore memory and were particularly struck by how certain objects or artefacts can trigger specific memories. This gave us the idea of creating a “memory container”—a way to preserve the essence of our grandmothers' presence and the memories we shared with them. The project is our way of capturing those fleeting moments, ensuring they remain alive and tangible.

Process

The dining table in Chinese culture is not merely a place to satisfy hunger; it is a space for emotional exchange, storytelling, and warmth. In China, the dining table symbolizes family harmony and reunion, with the round table, in particular, representing the cultural significance of "reunion." Inspired by this idea, we decided to visually present the memories related to our grandmother through embroidery, creating a work that resonates emotionally.

In our design, we especially referenced the traditional Chinese philosophical concept of "Tian Yuan Di Fang" (the heavens are round and the earth is square), which embodies the principles of symmetry and harmonious unity. The round shape symbolizes heaven, while the square symbolizes the earth. This symbolic design not only aligns with the traditional Chinese concept of "Tian Yuan Di Fang," but also deepens the significance of the dining table as a symbol of communication and familial bonds. Through this design, we turned the table into a vehicle for both cultural tradition and personal emotional memory.

We chose to embroider the story of our grandmother on plates, with the embroidered patterns encapsulating moments we shared with her. Every stitch is a dialogue of emotion with our grandmother. On the round table, these embroidered patterns are not just static pieces of art; they become active storytellers, carrying the warmth and unity of the family. As these patterns merge with the symbolism of "Tian Yuan Di Fang," they collectively form a space where viewers can interact with us, sharing the memories and emotions that continue to live on through the artwork.

The tablecloth is made using a combination of wet felting and dry felting techniques. First, wet felting is used to bond wool fibres together through heat and friction, creating a solid yet soft base fabric composed of six different colours, each representing a distinct memory associated with our grandmother. The fabric is then cut into a 70cm x 70cm square, offering both a comfortable texture and sufficient durability. The wet felting process imparts a warm, tactile quality to the tablecloth, while each colour symbolizes a different memory and emotion related to our grandmother.

The memory plates on the tablecloth are crafted using both embroidery and dry felting techniques. Wool fibres in various colours are carefully tied and secured through dry felting to form intricate, three-dimensional patterns with rich detail. These patterns are arranged clockwise on the tablecloth according to the theme of the memories.

The combination of these two techniques gives the overall piece a soft texture and visual richness, while also conveying a sense of warmth and delicate emotion.

The interactive design of the tablecloth integrates Arduino and MAX programming technologies, allowing the audience to activate hidden sound stories embedded in the embroidered patterns through touch and interaction. When a participant places a memory plate on the corresponding position on the tablecloth, a pressure sensor embedded within the fabric triggers an Arduino system, which then activates the MAX program to play an audio clip related to that specific memory. This creates a dual sensory feedback of both visual and auditory experiences.

This interactive element not only enables the audience to connect with the artwork through their senses but also allows each memory plate to tell a story, guiding participants deeper into the narrative and helping them feel the emotions conveyed by the piece. Through this interaction, the tablecloth becomes more than just a static artwork; it transforms into a medium for emotional communication, enhancing the immersion and shared experience of the memories.

Arduino and Max:

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