"Tonkotsu Ramen" (豚骨拉面)
// BLURB //
As the saying goes, "long noodles for a long life." According to tradition, longevity noodles should be eaten whole, without breaking, and must be sturdy enough to withstand a strong chopstick pull. During meals, guests often stand up when the noodles are served. They theatrically lift the noodles above their heads with chopsticks, bring them to their faces, and slurp them in one go, expressing gratitude to the host. This unbroken length is not just a culinary preference but a deliberate symbol of the eater's life—longer noodles symbolize a longer and more prosperous life.
As the saying goes, "long noodles for a long life." According to tradition, longevity noodles should be eaten whole, without breaking, and must be sturdy enough to withstand a strong chopstick pull. During meals, guests often stand up when the noodles are served. They theatrically lift the noodles above their heads with chopsticks, bring them to their faces, and slurp them in one go, expressing gratitude to the host. This unbroken length is not just a culinary preference but a deliberate symbol of the eater's life—longer noodles symbolize a longer and more prosperous life.
The history of these longevity noodles dates back to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty around 141-87 BC. At that time, Emperor Wu believed that if a person has a long face, they will live a long life. Unable to change his face length, he turned to long noodles, as the word for “noodle” (面 Miàn) sounds like "face" (脸 Liǎn) in Chinese. This custom gradually spread beyond the palace to the rest of the country.
In a world of quick bites and fleeting moments, longevity noodles remind us to savor life's journey—one unbroken strand at a time. So, snatch a cup of Tonkotsu ramen and slurp away! May each noodle be a wish for a long and fulfilling life!
EDITION, MEDIA, SIZE & WEIGHT
One-of-a-kind work, issued as a unique edition. A preliminary prototype may exist within the collective’s archive and may serve as a museum proof for future exhibition or provenance traceability.
Shanghai 2025
TFT display, media player, Staedtler black pigment ink, acrylic & oil paint on Vietnamese linen embedded in hand cast resin, teakwood frame
84.1(W)×114.8(H)×5.8(D) cm // 31 kg
CRATE SIZE & WEIGHT
100(W)×130(H)×21(D) cm //61 kg
EXPOSURE
“The Fourth Wall” at island6 Shanghai
CREDITS
Shengqiu Li 李生秋 (painting) • Camilla Zhao 赵莹 (performance) • Thomas Charvériat (art direction) • Yeung Sin Ching 杨倩菁 (production supervisor) • Tiara Alvarado-Leon (blurb)
One-of-a-kind work, issued as a unique edition. A preliminary prototype may exist within the collective’s archive and may serve as a museum proof for future exhibition or provenance traceability.
Shanghai 2025
TFT display, media player, Staedtler black pigment ink, acrylic & oil paint on Vietnamese linen embedded in hand cast resin, teakwood frame
84.1(W)×114.8(H)×5.8(D) cm // 31 kg
CRATE SIZE & WEIGHT
100(W)×130(H)×21(D) cm //61 kg
EXPOSURE
“The Fourth Wall” at island6 Shanghai
CREDITS
Shengqiu Li 李生秋 (painting) • Camilla Zhao 赵莹 (performance) • Thomas Charvériat (art direction) • Yeung Sin Ching 杨倩菁 (production supervisor) • Tiara Alvarado-Leon (blurb)
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