The Black Forest Cake Project (2004)
A solo exhibition of Black Forest cakes (with the participation of hotels, cafes and bakeries)
8 – 18 September 2004
Plastique Kinetic Worms, Singapore 2004
The consumption of cake on ceremonial occasions has its basis in ancient and religious rituals. The Greeks, English, Chinese, Celts, Slavs, made their cakes at particular times of the year, to honour various gods and deities and to celebrate seasonal cycles. Today, we continue to make/ buy/ serve/ consume cake to commemorate birthdays, weddings, and other significant occasions.
In this exhibition, the Black Forest cake serves as an example of how traditions, histories and cultures can be experienced in a simple cake, perhaps as important as that which can be experienced in art. The Black Forest cake has travelled through time, across countries and cultures to become one of the most common and popular cakes in Singapore.
A very pertinent aspect of this exhibition is that the cakes presented as a result of a series of dialogues between the participant and the artist. Having contacted and spoke with over 80 hotels, cafes, bakeries and independent bakers, the list below reflects the number of participants who were interested to collaborate on this project :
Angie The Choice
Cake Avenue
cedele by bakery depot
dotipoko bakeshop
Emicakes
Grand Hyatt Singapore
Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel
Hilton Singapore
Karen Cheok
Mayson Bakery
Secret Recipe
Singapore Marriott Hotel
Sweet Secrets Pastry Shop
The Patissier
Equipment supplied by Lowe Refrigeration.
Press:
Teo Pau Lin, "Black Magic", The Sunday Times, Taste, 5 September 2004.
Leow, Gregory. “Have your cake and eat it, too”, The Straits Times, Streats, 10 September 2004.
Chow, Clara. “Serving up a slice of life”, The Straits Times, Life! Arts, 14 September 2004.
吴启基, "摆摆蛋糕也是艺术", LianHe Zaobao, 16 September 2004.