HAPPY FOOD

HAPPY FOOD (2021) by Aluta Null
HAPPY FOOD is an augmented reality piece from PHANTOM (2021), a solo exhibition presented through Bubblegum Club's gallery residency. In PHANTOM, I explored themes of the mind, mental illness, and perception through Extended Reality.
HAPPY FOOD features a vintage Tedelex television, transformed into an AR target object. Viewed through a smartphone camera, the broken TV reveals a video that parodies 1990s infomercials. This video promotes a "happy food" breakfast meal-kit claimed to cure depression and uplift spirits—a satirical take on wellness. The faceless host guides viewers through the preparation of this supposedly euphoric meal, which quickly devolves into a dangerous mix of alcohol and mystery pills. This piece uses absurdity to highlight the harsh realities of addiction and unhealthy coping mechanisms. The concept of "shifting the gaze" is central here: AR allows viewers to see the vintage TV in its new, vulnerable form, revealing the underlying message of the artwork. HAPPY FOOD played a crucial role in shaping my ongoing DEAD THINGS practice. PHANTOM (2021) was awarded the Extended Reality award at the Fak'ugesi Awards in Johannesburg and was a finalist in IDFA DocLab’s Digital Storytelling competition in Amsterdam.
Link to view HAPPY FOOD's Extended Version Video:
https://youtu.be/u1t5scNjBz8?si=iSj8whGW9Q2NSlW-
Link to view HAPPY FOOD's AR Demonstration Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OXXnbSglzQ
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Aluta Null (they/she) is a digital artist and game developer based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Blending XR and gaming with a sharp focus on technology, politics, perception, and pop culture, Aluta's work challenges the ordinary and pushes the boundaries of tech. Aluta Null defies conventions by spotlighting what many consider mundane. Through a glitchy lens, Null meditates on what art means, what the digital is, and what their fusion can become. Explore more by Aluta Null on their LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/alutas_theory