Street Food as Social Sculpture
Let us replace flames with the power of the people to illuminate historic monuments.
“Burndown Cake” is a specialty snack created based on the traditional Castella cake, incorporating elements of traditional Taiwanese architecture and the spirit of social reform. By leveraging the pervasive nature of this popular street food, we aim to introduce people to nearby historic monuments in a relatable manner, reminiscing about their former glory, promoting the cultural significance of these monuments, and simultaneously raising public awareness about the crisis of preserving cultural assets.
The name “Burndown Cake” also reveals the improper treatment of monuments in Taiwan, where they sometimes combust mysteriously or are subject to deliberate vandalism. The presence of these food stalls, which roam through the historical streets and alleys of Taiwan, symbolizes a cultural gathering point, using food to bridge human relationships and foster warmth. It’s a communicative method that satisfies basic needs while embodying a sense of everyday life. The Burndown Cake stall will appear and tour at the sites of disputes over the preservation of historic buildings and at locations where these monuments have been harmed or destroyed, rejuvenating the value of local monuments.
