Collectors may have tightened their belts, but the crowd thronging the
gallery Haunch of Venison last night was happy to loosen them to sample the
mouth-watering art on display. Thrown by Kreemart and American Patrons of
Tate, the event showcased commissioned cakes by four artists,
each of whom designed a delectable work in collaboration with a leading
pastry chef.
Leandro Erlich teamed with Guido Mogni of Sant Ambroeus to
produce “You Can’t have Your Cake and eat it too,” which took the form of a
lifesize chocolate sofa, while Rob Wynne made “Cake, Cake” (the word ‘Cake’
spelled out in letters made of cake, as shown above) aided by Lidia Bastianich and Brooks
Headly of Del Posto.
Mickalene Thomas, meanwhile, sent topless beauties (above) into the fray, bearing
trays laden with cakes that they hand-fed to anyone eager to take a bite. (Thomas' treats came via Bob Spiegel of
Creative Edge) And artist Marina Abramović, working with Daniel’s Dominique Ansel, kept
herself busy conducting the “Abramović experiment,” wherein participants
were invited to don lab coats and smear gold leaf over their lips before
gathering in a cluster to form a symbolic cake with their bodies. Cakes,
naturally, were their reward for all that hard work.
Marina Abramović
