Art always looks better when there’s food in your belly.
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But when the food itself is created to match the colours, energy and meaning of an artwork, you know you’ve got a masterpiece on your hands.
Brigid Corcoran from Saltbush Kitchen at M.A.D.E and Sara Kittlety from Kittelty’s at the Gallery have teamed up to create a special all-Australian bush foods cocktail party in response to the Archibald Prize exhibition currently being hosted in Ballarat.
The pair has chosen 12 portraits from the exhibition and created canapés and cocktails inspired by what they see and feel in response.
Miss Corcoran described the project, now in its second year, as a “harebrained endeavour”.
She said she had a great time creating food in response to Michael McWilliams’ piece The Usurpers, a fantastical self-portrait and a commentary on introduced species and pests.
She not only wanted to match the colours, but also the intention behind the piece.
“This was particularly interesting for me because this is an extraordinary picture,” Miss Corcoran said.
“What we do (at Saltbush Kitchen) is all about introducing people to Australian foods and bush foods.”
Given that, her canapé in response to The Usurpers is kangaroo with cripsy saltbush macadamia paste with wild rosella flowers.
An accompanying cocktail features native flowers, native rivermint with lemon and chili with hibiscus salt.
Another example is the firey quandong and wild rosella chilli bomb the pair has created, inspired by Rhys smart mouth, a portrait of redhead comedian Rhys Nicholson painted by Melissa Ritchie.
“It’s about matching food to the colour as well as the flavour,” Miss Corcoran said.
“It was a nice creative challenge.”
She said art and food were natural allies.
“It’s a real merging of the two, which is nice.”
The event will be held at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, with an exclusive viewing of the Archibald Prize exhibition.
Canapés and cocktail will be served before the viewing, with more canapés and wine available for attendees after they have seen the works.
The Australian Art Food Cocktail Party will be held November 12. Tickets are $89, available at www.made.org or via 1800 287 113.
