Group members:
Mansi Chottani, Kye Li Chia, Yuying Wang (Abbey), Zuzana Galova, Roshni Suri
Brief:
Design and make a new form for a dematerialised artefact
Date:
20th April - 8th June 2023
"The Last Supper" ritual generates new meaning for the breakup experience, transforming it into a mutual process of parting and honoring the end of an era. The ritual of "the last supper" combines elements from both in-person and text-based interactions, acknowledging the value of physical presence and tangible experiences in face-to-face encounters, as well as the advantages of distance, thoughtful consideration and reflection offered by text-based communication.
Taking materiality into consideration, situating the ritual within a tablecloth allowed us to draw upon the sentimental value associated with handcrafted objects, the tradition of passing down embroidered items through generations and reintroduce effort and care into the process of breaking up, which tends to be lost in digital interactions. By using the tablecloth, we were able to physically embody and convey the social interactions of the end of a relationship. The tablecloth provided a tangible framework that made the breakup ritual more substantial and meaningful.
Elements of ‘The Last Supper’ ritual:
The hands on the tablecloth represent the seating positions of the two individuals involved. Deliberately facing away from each other, this symbolises the nature of a text message conversation — lack of eye contact or physical contact.
The presence of a knife and spilled wine adds to the impact of the breakup, representing the messiness and pain often associated with such situations. It also suggests that the cloth has been utilised and is no longer pristine, much like the relationship itself.
The menu is divided into appetizers, mains and desserts, each offering a different set of prompts. This allows both parties the freedom to select the type of questions or prompts they wish to discuss in a structured manner.
The notepad, designed as a plate, serves as a writable surface. It can be used when either party needs time to gather their thoughts before sharing. This reflects the quality of text messages, allowing individuals time to think and express themselves clearly.
"Settle the bill" symbolises the aspect of closure in a relationship, which is frequently lost in the back-and-forth of texting.
The "return form" strengthens the closure by giving both parties an opportunity to request the return of items they may have gifted or left behind.
The "split in the middle" represents the decision to separate and pursue individual paths. Each person keeps one side of the cloth as a memento of their shared history.
Reflection:
Unfortunately, I could only join the project on its last day, which was a disappointment as I missed out on the majority of the hands-on creation process. However, I was grateful to contribute to the ideation and digital aspects of the project.