Exploration of the simplicity and joy of celebration on the example of a fictional migrant community while the Western world suffers in the search for joy.

The work explores central themes in the social lives of immigrant workers, so-called gastarbeiters. These themes include cars and food. A car in the culture of people coming to work in large cities is not just a means of transportation — it is a symbol of freedom, embodying the ability to manage, literally, steer their lives. It is associated with speed and energy, material prosperity, masculinity and victory. An owner of a car becomes a faithful participant in the holiday, carrying music, guests, and food!

Holiday food in the distance is simple, made with accessible and inexpensive ingredients. It is not affected by veganism, sustainability, dietary restrictions, or gastronomic sophistication. It is an infantile act of consumption, filled with pure joy. An abundance of floury foods, sweets, and canned soft drinks, ready to be consumed immediately.

Understanding that the regulations of social rituals of immigrant culture in real life are more complex and multifaceted, we have created a fantasy work offering to come to an understanding of Others through taste, to experience the delight and euphoria from simple things: close community, familiar dishes, cars. The dishes are served on the car’s body parts.

From our observation, consumption patterns in big cities have become complicated: urban dwellers strive for pleasure, yet thinking about their status, environmental impact, and health. The Other is different and has no difficulties: extremely frank about his desires, an immigrant can experience exclusion. The work Taste of Metal plays with such limitations and invites the audience to try this limit.