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Diary of a Product

Performed in 2020 at Bermondsey Art Gallery, London, UK.


They gave me a name 
and I felt myself become the name.  
 
Proud of my logo,
I was eager to leave the production line,
impatiently waiting my turn in acquisition. 

The line workers said not to hurry, 
that I had time, 
but I was too animated.  
 
At the storehouse, 
they shined my component goods
making sure my sticker stayed sticky
and working parts in order. 
 
When I was accidentally scuffed up 
from a mis-handler,
they restored me 
with an invasive apparatus. 

I did well in the subsequent exhibitions, 
Comparable with the other merchandise. 

Still, I felt awkward in my product display 
and slightly embarrassed of its flashy design.  

My shelf-life passed on 
and I detected in their worried glances 
That I was not, perhaps, 
functioning up to expectation. 

I tried harder to operate 
according to the manual issued with me
but I felt that some of the commands 
were unwarranted.  
 
Eventually the supply to demand ratio 
dwindled and still,
 I had not consummated a transaction. 
 
I had become, they explained, a market risk.  
 
In short, I would not be good for their gross margin.

As my product satisfaction was now negligible,  
servicing and an upgrade was needed,  
and I was recalled to the production plant. 

After prodding me with instruments, 
they detected I had an internal flaw, 
the result of a human error.  
 
After deliberating they decided 
that repair was not worth their time 
as newer models were already being fabricated.  

I showed the manufacturer my logo 
and explained, 
It is my name. 

He said, 
“Don’t Worry,
It peels easily off. “
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