GUTFUL: BUG IN THE SYSTEM

Did you know the world’s first computer bug was a moth trapped in a computer? Or that insects could be a key ingredient in lessening the environmental effects of human consumption? Part-performance lecture, part-intervention, part-snack pack, this event looks at bugs, food, technology and breakdowns in popular culture.

Prepare for a dynamic experience created by experimental arts collective APHIDS and creative food studio Long Prawn featuring crickets, millennium bugs and sneaky robot waiters. Drawing from the State Library Victoria archives, GUTFUL asks the question: is it a bug or is it a feature?

An event that liberates the food-free zone of State Library Victoria with waste-combatting chef Furrmien, performance artist and researcher Catherine Ryan, dance artist Sarah Aiken, design by Quiggi and proceedings by experimental performer Marcus Ian McKenzie.

GUTFUL is an ongoing program which match-makes food with social issues within the State Library of Victoria’s archival collection. 

Stemming from an ongoing collaboration with culinary event platform, Long Prawn and built through SLV’s Alchemy program, GUTFUL responds to radical texts from the library’s archives to create artistic dining experiences at the State Library Victoria. Fusing APHIDS’ future-focused politics with Long Prawn’s divergent food thinking, GUTFUL will transform  the library into a site for unexpected snacks, drinks, performance and ideas. 

In 2022, APHIDS and Long Prawn collaborated on two sold-out events – Contentious Buffet at WinterWild Festival in Apollo Bay and GUTFUL: Revolt! at the State Library of Victoria. 

CREDITS

Co-creators: APHIDS and Long Prawn
Food: Long Prawn and Furrmien
Performance lecture: Catherine Ryan
Host/performer: Marcus McKenzie
Performer: Sarah Aiken
Design: QUIGGI
Waiter/performers: Harrison Hall and Cora Hughes
Creative Producer: Anna Nalpantidis

GUTFUL is based on APHIDS’ mission to create Urgent Art For Urgent Times, collaborating with Long Prawn, State Library staff, artists and new audiences to have meaningful exchanges about our collective future.

This project was developed with assistance from State Library Victoria’s Alchemy program and has been supported by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body, the City of Melbourne through its ACIP program, and Creative Victoria through its Creative Enterprises Program.