Yilu Xing | Today’s Special

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Yilu Xing, "Daily Practice: shopping, cooking, drawing, writing detail," 2022

marker on paper, stamping on receipts, wood, nail. Photo credit: James Boychuk-Hunter.

Opening Reception: June 24 at 7PM 

Today’s Special, a “kitchen,” opens every Saturday from noon to 2 pm in July at the SNAP gallery. Come during the lunch hour to enjoy some of chef Yilu’s homemade dishes (print version). Missed the chef? Help yourself to a boiled egg.

Today’s Special brings together my passion for connecting with people through food, and creating interactive spaces with prints. This exhibition is an experimental kitchen space for collective culinary discussion and exploration, without the actual edibles.

Having lived alone in Edmonton during the pandemic, I formed a habit of cooking meals (almost daily) for myself. It wasn’t just about nourishment; it became a therapeutic ritual that brought me immense joy and comfort. I found solace and a sense of flow in my daily routine, whether it was cooking in the kitchen or printing in the studio.

Today’s Special features a collection of prints inspired by the favorite dishes I’ve cooked. Visit this space during our open hours, where the chef will be on duty, on Saturdays from noon to 2 pm. You may choose a meal from the chef’s special menu, or “create your own” using our selection of ingredients. Our working station is designed to be a cozy dining table where you can enjoy the prints and create your own food-inspired collage.

While the chef is away on break, feel free to explore the kitchen at leisure: draw on the wallpaper, take photos, or simply take a seat and enjoy a moment of contemplation about your own culinary experiences. Before you leave, don’t forget to take home a delightful boiled egg print made by the chef! By taking this print, you forge a lasting bond through food, even in the absence of the artist and the edibles themselves.

Yilu Xing (she/her) received her BFA from the Alberta University of the Arts and an MFA in printmaking from the University of Alberta. Her current research explores ideas around culture and its significance from a culinary perspective. Yilu enjoys watching cooking tutorials, fashion documentaries, crime & mystery shows, and dogs running in parks.