Hello! My name is Caitlyn Kim, and I am the creator of the "Reimagined Dinner Table," an evolving and inclusive art project that seeks to redefine representation in the art world. The idea for this project was born while I was doing a research paper on feminist art, and discovered Judy Chicago's groundbreaking piece, The Dinner Party. Chicago's piece was revolutionary, serving as a powerful protest against the exclusion of women from the art world's historical narrative. She created a symbolic dinner table, with plates designed to honor significant women throughout history, asserting their right to a seat at the table.
However, as transformative as The Dinner Party was, it was not without its limitations. In its noble effort to highlight women's contributions, it predominantly represented white women, inadvertently marginalizing other crucial voices—voices of women of color, queer artists, and those from non-Western backgrounds.
The "Reimagined Dinner Table" is my response—a Reimagined of Chicago's original concept, but with a broader, more inclusive scope. My goal is to ensure that this table is not static or confined to a specific group but is instead dynamic and reflective of the diverse tapestry of human experience. I wanted to create a platform that not only acknowledges but celebrates the contributions of artists from marginalized communities—queer artists, Nigerian artists, Indigenous artists, and many more who have historically been denied a seat at the table.
What makes the "Reimagined Dinner Table" unique is its participatory nature. I have designed it as an open platform where anyone can visit the website and request their own "plate"—a digital space dedicated to the artists or individual artworks they feel should be represented. This crowdsourced approach ensures that the project remains a living, breathing entity, constantly evolving to include voices that might otherwise be overlooked. It was crucial for me to avoid the pitfalls of making unilateral decisions about who should be represented, as was the case with Judy Chicago’s work. Instead, the "Reimagined Dinner Table" is a collective effort, a community-driven project where representation is fluid, inclusive, and truly reflective of the diverse world we live in.
For me, representation is not just a concept; it's a powerful call to action. The "Reimagined Dinner Table" challenges the art world to broaden its scope, to reconsider who is given space to be seen and heard, and to make room for those who have been historically excluded. This project is my contribution to that ongoing dialogue, a reminder that the table should always have room for more, and that true representation means making space for everyone, not just the few.