Inspired by Hieronymous Bosch’s epic work, Nicola Constantino's The Garden of Earthly Delights is where art comes alive through food. Constantino, who has been working on this project for a few years, has now mastered the art of invigorating all five senses through a fully edible art experience. At her studio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nicola hosts guests from around the world for this invite-only affair.
She wanted to ensure that the Garden of Earthly Delights is not just a figment of Bosch’s imagination, but also her own reality. “I have flowers made by handblown glass that hold cold soups, and people have to suck those flowers as if they were hummingbirds. Some trees hold spheres filled with food, and spectators can eat what they want; it’s all very visual, and it’s all connected to nature,” she says.
A Rare Experience
For Nicolas, the memory of such an artistic experience is more important than the work itself. She truly believes that every part of the experience of food making: the serving, the cups, the saucers, the plates, the music, the black cat running around as if it were in a garden, are all part of understanding and experiencing her work.
It was almost like a performance where she even showed how to glaze the desert so seamlessly. It was not just a gastronomical delight, but a magical experience starting from the handblown glass flowers, the Aladdin lamps for the tea, to the Nerikomi hand-made pottery, the performance-based photographs, steel sculptures made to look like pigs, the exquisite food, the lighting design, and the magnificent Fountain of Life.
