I dream of equitable kitchens

Notes on my 'dream kitchen', the politics of labour and the Frankfurt kitchen project

A collage of some kitchens, some food, and some future inspiration

While doing a deep dive of the picture gallery on my phone the other day¹, I noticed a picture of a mock kitchen I’d taken at a V&A exhibit² that I’d forgotten about for three years. Because I don’t normally take pictures of paintings or sculptures at a gallery (it seems like an anathema), I was surprised. At that time, I’d foolishly (or rightfully) labelled it ‘the kitchen of my dreams’ because it contained a number of quirky objects that I’d be proud to possess: a set of three luridly coloured enamel tins, an aluminium potato ricer that could double up as a coconut breaker, a 4L measuring jug painted with eggs of various sizes, a huge brown watering can, a delightful analog clock from the 1950s, two lovingly used brushes with frayed feathers and ageing wooden handles, small bowls and huge pots, ladles in steel and ceramic, cookbooks, small statues etc all housed in a giant fuckall cubic structure placed in lieu of a kitchen island in the middle. On the side there were smaller structures with jars of fermenting kimchi and sauerkraut, pickles of damson lime and green beans, a garish red cheese box and small cheeseboards, jars of jam, and mixing bowls.

In short, it was a collector’s kitchen.