Women and The Table They Set
I don't believe that the women being interviewed need to know how to cook. Instead, I want to clearly see how they have transformed the fire of the traditional kitchen into the workplace, the family, marriage, and the stage of dreams.
The content curation of "Women and The Table They Set" is based on the world-famous painting "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci. The original painting depicted a scene where Jesus points out the traitor Judas among the twelve disciples.
When I saw this painting, the first thing that came to my mind was that these men were having dinner, while Mary and a group of women were busy in the background.
During my year-long travels to France, Denmark, England, Italy, and Spain, I focused on the family dinner table as the central theme for exploring the concept of "living in the hostesses' homes" and "living with them." I interacted with twelve European lovely ladies, enabling them to share personal stories about their lives. Through this project, I documented their demonstrations of self-confidence within societal roles, their strategies for overcoming frustrations, and their journeys towards effortlessly fulfilling their dreams.
Traditionally, we talk about "cooking" as a survival skill to feed a family. However, the Chinese character "煮", with a person on top and a fire on the bottom, symbolizes a person who uses fire. To me, this symbolizes someone who, like writing, contributes to the advancement of civilization. Under this concept, I don't believe that the women being interviewed need to know how to cook. Instead, I want to clearly see how they converting sensitivity into creativity, and sensibility into glamour.
In 2016, I traveled 28,936 miles over 365 days. As part of my journey across Europe, I visited the homes of 12 European women to listen to their stories about the dining table.
In 2017, I submitted "Grandpa David's Birthday Tea Party," which was later shortlisted for the Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year—Food for the Family Award. Entitled "Women and The Table They Set" is available throughout the Chinese-speaking world.
True Colors of Yosifu—A Journey in Artistic Expression
Recognized with the highest honor, the National Golden Tripod Award for Publications.
As a biography of the first half of the artist's life, "True Colors” integrates my ten-year experience as an art agent, an European sustainability volunteer, an advocate for gender equality, and writes about Yosif’s intriguing life journey from the third-person vantage point.
We are calling for more respect to be given to the Indigenous peoples so that they are not relegated to the margins of a society. At the same time, we invite everyone to appreciate the fact that all minorities in the world have their own challenges - even if you might be at the top of the pyramid.
In Yosif’s #globalcitizen mentality, we encourage everyone to find their true nature and to cultivate a sustainable perspective of love and awareness that people are a part of nature.