Mengchen Liu

My creation is a prayer - for him to stay in this world for a moment longer.

My series of works revolve around an elderly man facing cancer and the transcendent power of the recipes that brought him happiness in his final days. Living with him made our lives connected in every way, with the small, insignificant things of everyday life known as his remedies for healing himself.

At the heart of my creative expression lies a deep-rooted connection to the emotional realm, drawing inspiration from personal experiences that have had a profound impact on my life. Through my work, I strive to capture the essence of these experiences, conveying a world suspended between the spiritual realm and reality.

Through vibrant and visually striking cakes, I aim to articulate the intellectual and technical processes behind my work. Each cake tells a story of resilience, a celebration of life, and a message of hope. Colors become the language through which I express profound emotions and tensions, revealing the fragility and vulnerability hidden within our colorful world.

The process starts with envisioning the concept and flavors that can evoke specific emotions. Through experimentation with ingredients, textures, and colors, I aim to create a sensory experience that transcends the ordinary. It is a delicate balance between taste and visual impact, resulting in cakes that tell stories through their unique forms.

The integration of thought, creativity, and technique is at the heart of my production process. I combine various materials and techniques to bring my visions to life, adding objects that bear witness to the bonding process of companionship to the creation in the form of materials, such as the sesame seeds he likes to sprinkle in his dishes in cakes, the shells of the ten eggs he eats every day before going to the gym, and the screws he tinkers with on a sunny afternoon, ensuring that every piece is a testament to craftsmanship and attention to detail.