anya gallaccio assaults the senses with edible dark chocolate room
the desire to interact by licking, touching or stroking the chocolate covered walls is almost compulsive.
anya gallaccio assaults the senses with edible dark chocolate room
all photography by ruth clark / courtesy of jupiter artland
scottish artist anya gallaccio assaults the senses of visitors to edinburgh’s jupiter artland with ‘stroke’, an entire room covered in thick dark chocolate. the immersive and interactive installation is lightly scented, beckoning gallery visitors to interact with the walls, by picking, licking or stroking the edible surfaces. activated by the audience, the exhibit is just as much about the edible space itself as the desire and anticipation of entering the room, suggesting gallaccio’s recurrent themes of lust and feminism.
the thick coating of melted materials, and the interplay with the observer, results in a natural processes of transformation and decay. gallaccio has described that she sees her works, ‘as being a performance and collaboration. there is unpredictability in the materials and collaborations I get involved in. making a piece of work becomes about chance – not just imposing will on something, but acknowledging its inherent qualities.’
the artist discusses ‘stroke’
video courtesy of jupiter artland
the chocolate-coated room beckons visitors to touch and taste
natural decay will occur on the edible material
the smell of chocolate will pervade the small enclosed space
the exhibit is just as much about the edible space itself as the desire and anticipation of entering the room
dark chocolate coats the walls
the room will transform over time, through the interaction with the visitor
