The theatre of the dining table is a performance about life and death. Unless we eat and drink, we die, which is why meals have great symbolic and sensual significance and are important in all cultures as expressions of community, power, and desire. At the table we communicate our identity. Through our choice of dishes, drinks, table decorations, and guests, we show who we are and who we would like to be – at small intimate meals and grand feasts alike.
Inspired by the cultural history of the set table and the choreography of the meal itself, our project explores their potential today. The exhibition demonstrates encounters between nature and culture. Some of the objects are inspired by the environment and display the function of natural phenomena in the formation of cultural values. We have worked with a number of key concepts: toasting, tasting, decorating, conversing and collecting. These are words that describe aspects of the meal. They offer us an open framework in which our works of art can emerge and develop.
