HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB

HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – installation view: video, drawings on a wooden table and the custom sandwich maker in the exhibition space

HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB
2022–ongoing
Mixed Media, video installation
Variable size
Group show ‘Project to Support Emerging Media Arts Creators Presentation Exhibition’
TODA HALL & CONFERENCE TOKYO, 2025

When ingredients from different cultures are sandwiched between slices of bread and grilled, the result is often delicious. This simple idea sparked the “Hot Sandwich Makers Club” project, which aims to share stories of people with diverse cultural backgrounds and build networks across the world. Yamaguchi travels with a sandwich maker, inviting people he meets to create hot sandwiches using ingredients that are meaningful to them. They then share the meal together. The conversations that arise during this process are carefully documented through video and drawings. Ultimately, words that Yamaguchi wishes to share with others are selected from these interactions.

In 2022, a particularly impactful work emerged from an encounter with a young Uzbek immigrant in Berlin. While it may be difficult to fully comprehend the history of Russian occupation in his homeland or the hardships he faced as an immigrant in Germany, Yamaguchi attempted to absorb his companion’s incomprehensible experiences through the act of eating the sandwiched words. The poignant phrase “I’M FROM HUMAN,” spoken by the young man, was engraved on a specially crafted sandwich maker. Since then, Yamaguchi has been using this unique sandwich maker to perform sandwich-making events throughout Japan and overseas. These activities are presented as video installations at various exhibitions, continuing to explore the potential of cultural exchange through food.

HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – a sandwich maker, a portable gas burner and a bag of bread labelled American Sandwich
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – the artist cooking a hot sandwich on a portable burner outdoors during his travels
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – ingredients gathered for a hot sandwich: bread, sausages, bacon, a gas canister and a cup of coffee
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – a man the artist met showing photographs on his smartphone across a table
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – an open sandwich with tomato and rocket in the cast-iron sandwich maker
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – hands writing down the words chosen from a conversation with a participant
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – drawing onto a photograph of the finished hot sandwich
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – a framed photograph of a hot sandwich on a plate, displayed on a wooden table
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – the framed work I’M FROM HUMAN, toast branded with the words, on the exhibition wall
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – installation view: rows of sandwich makers and photographs hung on the wall
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – two sandwich maker plates on the wall, one engraved with the mirrored words I’M FROM HUMAN
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – the sandwich maker set on a portable burner on a wooden table in a cafe
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – installation view: video of the artist cooking on a street, projected in a darkened room
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – visitors seated in a bright hall during a sandwich making session
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – the artist cooking during a workshop, with two sandwich maker plates displayed on the wall
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – a pot of stewed meat and vegetables prepared as a sandwich filling
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – participants standing and eating the hot sandwiches they made together
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – visitors gathered around tables of ingredients and sandwich makers in a bright hall
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – a group of people making hot sandwiches around a low table in a living room
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – a participant cooking his own hot sandwich with ingredients laid out on the counter
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – participants sitting in a circle and applauding during a session
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – the artist talking to children while making hot sandwiches at an outdoor session
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – a small child pressing the handle of the sandwich maker with help from adults
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – close-up of a slice of toast branded with the words I’M FROM HUMAN
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – installation view: a widescreen video above the custom sandwich maker on a white pedestal
HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – close-up of the custom sandwich maker plate engraved with the mirrored text I’M FROM HUMAN

-Appearance-

Feb 15 – Feb 24, 2025
Project to Support Emerging Media Arts Creators Presentation Exhibition
TODA HALL & CONFERENCE TOKYO, Japan

Dec 11 – Dec 17, 2023
CAF Contemporary Art Award 2023
Daikanyama Hillside Forum, Tokyo, Japan
*Performances all day.

Nov 4 – Nov 25, 2022
A-TOM ART AWARD 2022 Vernacular and Dawn
CourtyardHIROO, Tokyo, Japan
*Performances on Nov 17.

Oct 11 – Oct 16, 2022
ATLAS 2022
Tokyo University of the Arts, Ibaraki, Japan
*Performances all day.

-Performance/Workshop-
Traditional Uzbek “Palov” performance, served on hot sandwiches ATLAS 2022 / Tokyo University of the Arts (Ibaraki, Japan), 2022

HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – I’M FROM HUMAN – WORKSHOP Liberty House (Nishi Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan), 2022

HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – I’M FROM HUMAN – WORKSHOP BAR Eden (Yokohama, Japan), 2022

HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – I’M FROM HUMAN – WORKSHOP A-TOM ART AWARD 2022 Vernacular and Dawn / CourtyardHIROO (Tokyo, Japan), 2022

HOT SANDWICH MAKERS CLUB – WE ARE FROM HUMAN – WORKSHOP Shizuoka, Yoshiwara, Japan Supported by Arts Council Shizuoka, Yoshiwara Central Culture Center, 2022