Hello World!

A Multi-national Olympic Welcome

This is what happens when the entire world comes to visit. “Hello World!” is an interactive greeting for 20 countries visiting Paris for the Games. As an immigrant in France, I find the country hospitable but not always welcoming. A welcome creates a visceral connection between the giver and receiver, bridging language and custom.

How do we make others feel at home? The language of food is one of our fastest gateways. In a unequal world, cuisine is a vehicle of tradition that displays regional humanity and genius. It takes artistry to wield raw ingredients into delicacy. Some dishes were simple. Others required sweat and tears.

Coupled with augmented reality, anyone taste a little piece of home wherever they find themselves.

I used the same format despite some alphabets reading right to left. The strict template would reinforce the same concept: everyone gathers around a table. The feasts range from casual to elaborate, appetizers to dessert.

Each country has a political undertone (for example, Germany’s döner kebab originates from Turkey, but it’s the national street food of choice). The presence of underrepresented countries and omission of imperialistic nations is purposeful. Palestine’s mere presence is still audacious and hotly contested. Some countries use colonial languages, their traditional alphabets extinguished long ago. And others persist (I see you, Georgia).

I created every single dish here with exception of the French choux, which was rendered by a pastry chef off a sketch I made. Sadly I do not have an oven in my French kitchen. Every single dish was delicious. Some reminded me of loved ones far away or gone. Others brought new flavors and sensibilities. Not a single corner was cut.

A global team of global women assisted with translations, and a skeleton team comprised of my female students helped execute these projects.

Very special thanks to Rabab Chahine, Nikta Fardoobi, Malak Baccour, Chia Roxas, Ermi Miao, and Adèle Guisée. It does take a village.

This project did become something else entirely: an interactive AR website. I stuck QR code stickers all over town and handed them out. As self proclaimed ambassador, I visited multiple Olympic houses and historic locations around Paris to find appropriate scenes for each piece. I was deeply immersed in my city during a rare moment of national pride and global openness. In all my multicultural days, I have never experienced something quite like this. Did I find world peace? Maybe.