Dough Nation

May to June, 2022

AKA Artist Run Center

with Riversdale Community Fridge & Jing Jin Cuisine

The Jing Jin Couple, photo by Xiao Han, 2021

The billboard at AKA Artist Run Center

Designer: Laura Worobetz

Dough Nation is a community-based art project by Xiao Han, collaborating with the Riversdale Community Fridge Project. From May through June, Dough Nation takes the form of a billboard on AKA and PAVED Arts shared billboard space and an artist lead partnership between Jin Jin Cuisine and the Riversdale Community Fridge. As a gesture of community care and connection Han is organizing a series of food sharing days throughout the duration of the project, where Jin Jin will provide weekly drop offs of food to the community fridge. Through this, Han aims to connect the diverse cultural cuisines within the Riversdale district through a common ingredient, Dough - an essential component for many iconic dishes across various cultures, such as pancakes, stir-fry noodles, perogies, chow-mein, and doughnuts.

Dough Nation aspires to create an intercultural dialogue of mutual understanding and compassion through the act of food sharing. With the intent that this interactive project can raise awareness and spark discussions on several societal issues surrounding core neighborhoods in Saskatoon, specifically community care and food security. This project is also an opportunity for the community to demonstrate their appreciation and final sendoff for Jing Jin Cuisine, which has provided the Riversdale community with wholesome and authentic Northern Chinese food for the past decade.

Whether contributing or receiving in this project, all participants are encouraged to leave their messages on the notebook inside the fridge, forming dialogues between the community and the chefs who prepared these dough-based delicacies.