Fat Free Nirvana

running time: 3:00
2011
HD video, single channel, color sound

Artist Statement:

Based on Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha’s story of achieving enlightenment through extreme fasting, “Fat Free Nirvana” portrays a Chinese Laughing Buddha trying to lose weight while consuming healthy vegetables. In the beginning the diet shows results, however, after eating the following genetically modified vegetables and fruits- “Flavr Savr Tomato”, “BT Corn”, “Botox Apple”, “Killer Strawberries” and “Roundup Ready Soybean”, he feels very ill and starts vomiting until he reaches the fat-free nirvana.

With Giuseppe Verdi’s “Requiem- Dies Irae” as background music.

This video belongs to the art series “Sustainable Obesity”. The series of works explore the links between the obesity epidemic, the industrialization of our food chain, the agriculture biotechnology and its impact to our environment.

RESOURCES:

Obesity:

• Obesity- Research Journal
• Obesity Influence Diagram
• Health and economic burden of the projected obesity trends in the USA and the UK

Genetically Modified Organisms:

• The Future of Food
• Food Matters
• Harvest of Fear

Food Industry:

• Fast Food Nation
• Food Inc.
• The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
• In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto