A snack bar bockwurst ‚ a filling meal for craftspeople who often rely on quick and affordable food, especially in a workday shaped by time pressure and physical strain. Pragmatic necessity or contemptible routine? A sausage made of porcelain, Standing table, paper plate, mustard. Who judges whom?
This project explores the societal perception of simple foods through the example of the „gas station bockwurst.“Often dismissed as low-quality or unhealthy, for many‚ especially craftspeople‚ it serves as a quick and practical meal. The tension between social stigma and everyday necessity forms the foundation of this work.
The sausages were meticulously cast from real bockwursts and then reproduced in porcelain. Porcelain was deliberately chosen as a material due to its dual association with exclusivity and fragility on one hand, and industrial mass production on the other. By combining a humble snack bar item with a traditionally valuable material, the project creates an intriguing contrast that challenges perceptions of worth and value.
During the production phase, multiple casting molds were created to enable a high-volume series. The sausages were then glazed and fired to achieve their final form. Alongside this practical process, a theoretical examination of the historical connection between fast food and the working class was undertaken, drawing on literary and artistic references for inspiration.
The final installation references the aesthetics of a classic snack bar setting: the porcelain sausages are displayed on paper plates, accompanied by transport crates labeled „WURST“ in stencil lettering. This deliberate juxtaposition of everyday life and art object invites reflection on food culture, social hierarchies, and the perceived value of materials.
