Disturbing Series (Mukbang)

Begüm Taylan
Disturbing Series (Mukbang)
HD Video, Color/Sound, 7’
Video
2023

Disturbing Series is a series of interventions conceived by the artist to disturb the audience in the context of an exhibition. Each intervention aims at making spectators feeling uncomfortable. Disturbing Series (Mukbang) is part of this series and it is based on a collection of found YouTube/social media videos known as “Mukbang”. In the original videos, creators record themselves while eating for a selection of viewers that watch these contents privately – in their laptop – to don’t feel lonely while eating or for ASMR – Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, a relaxing and exciting bodily sensation.However, by using editing as main technique, the work critically questions this phenomenon and by repeating these scenes all together it emphasises sounds/actions within the sensory experience associated with eating. The result is a disturbing composition of people publicly chewing and biting at the viewers’ expense.