McAmen 麦门

2021-Present

In the past three years, I've patronised McDonald's more than 240 times-this ubiquitous fast-food giant, attempting to showcase the impact of the post-COVID economic downturn on the youth. While McDonald's once stood at the epicenter of junk food debates, amidst the waves of financial turbulence, it has become a beacon for young individuals facing economic hardships, like myself. Its affordability, convenience, and swift service provide a practical option for daily sustenance, just like a contemporary sanctuary.

I have undertaken a rule art project, every times I eat the Filet-O-Fish at different McDonald's and I will shoot the different surfaces of the buns by my iphone. Then I posted photos of these buns on a Chinese social media THE RED (Xiaohongshu)... This whimsical act unexpectedly garnered widespread attention and expressed our young generation's attitude towards the uncertainty of life in this era.

Through meticulous documentation of daily actions and consumption habits, this piece of art delves into the evolving societal values, class disparities, and life choices in this context, offering viewers a profound visual and emotional contemplation.

"Each time I open the box, the appearance of the bun is different, symbolizing the myriad of choices in life, always filled with anticipation."

在过去的两年里，我光顾了麦当劳 240 次——这家无处不在的快餐巨头，试图表现后新冠时代经济衰退对年轻人的影响。

虽然麦当劳曾经深陷垃圾食品争论的漩涡，但在疫情后经济不稳定的浪潮中，它成为了许多像我一样经济困难的年轻人的灯塔。麦当劳的价格实惠、方便和快捷的服务提供了一种实用的日常饮食选择。

我以此主题进行了一项规则艺术的项目，即每次在不同的麦当劳吃麦香鱼时，都会用iPhone拍摄麦香鱼的不同表面。然后我把这些麦香鱼的照片发布在中国社交媒体小红书上…这个异想天开的行为意外地引起了广泛的关注，表达了年轻一代对生活中不确定性的态度。

通过对日常行动和消费习惯的详细记录，这件艺术作品深入探索了不断变化的社会价值观、阶级差异，以及在此背景下的生活选择，为观者提供了一个值得思考的生活切片。

"For most contemporary people, their gallery is their smartphone."

I gained popularity by consistently posting my experiences of eating the Filet-O-Fish on Xiaohongshu (The Red, a popular social media platform in China), and even received a job offer from McDonald's China headquarters. This journey of chasing viewer engagement gradually made me lose sight of the original purpose of my project, which was to critique the fast-food culture, poor study abroad experiences, and the singular pursuit of a polished aesthetic in society.

“对于大多数当代人而言，他们的画廊是手中的手机。”

我因为在小红书上发布坚持吃麦香鱼的图文内容而获得流量，并陷入到对于流量的追逐之中，逐渐让我忘记了项目的初衷，即批判快餐文化、糟糕的留学经历以及社会上对精致审美的单一追求。

Bunspotting (2021-2023)
75cm×115cm Inkjet Print

Choose life. Choose how to live. Choose faith. Choose a numb existence. Choose a fucking new phone, choose electric cars, graphics cards and extra safe condoms. Choose good health, low calories, and delivery platforms. Choose bullshit jobs. Choose to be swiped left or right on dating apps. Choose D.I.Y and wondering when the fucking next bank holiday is on Sunday nights. Choose using vegan lipstick on a date without sparks, pouring triple-priced beer into mouth. Choose the glory at the end of it at all, mixing your last in fireworks, nothing but a joke to your friends who will just give you likes on social media platforms. Choose your future. Choose life… But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose something else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when I’m Lovin’ It?

猜堡包（2021-2023）
75cm×115cm 数字微喷

选择生活，选择如何过活。
选择一座城市，选择结婚生子按部就班。
选择操作顺滑的新手机，选择易保养的电动汽车、性价比高的显卡和更轻薄的气球。
选择健康、低卡路里的食物以及更优惠的外卖平台。
选择自己动手做饭，选择在周末的夜晚思考下一个假期而不是下一个节日在什么时候。
选择一份工作，选择在约会软件上向左或向右滑动。
选择在面试时说出真心话，选择在相亲时来一场大冒险。
选择人生的高光时刻，将剩下的一切与烟火混合升空爆炸，选择成为朋友圈的笑话，如果届时还有朋友圈，收获无从知晓的点赞和最后的诗意。
选择你还未到来的未来。选择生活……
但我为什么要选择？我选择不选择生活。
我选择了别的。
至于原因？
没有原因。

我就喜欢。

"Each time I open the box, the appearance of the bun is different, symbolizing the myriad of choices in life, always filled with anticipation."

“其实想法很简单，每次揭开盒子的堡面各不相同，就像人生总有千百种选择，总要有所期待。”

"A summary of the McDonald's locations I have visited."

“那些我去过的麦当劳。”