Commensality [ kä men salətē ] _noun The positive social interactions that are associated with people eating together.
With millions of restaurants and pubs closed down and social distancing practiced across the country, sharing food with family and friends at the same table has become a luxury. However, this doesn’t stop people from seeking new ways of commensality. Whether it is placing dividers at restaurant tables, live stream eating, or partying on zoom, the need for mealtime interaction, connection, and companionship remains unchanged.
This generative cutlery set was created with the help of 56 participants via virtual gathering and physical mailing during the second lockdown of Shijiazhuang city in China, capturing the collective dining experience in a time where digital socialization has become the new normal.