PAULINE LEMBERGER & IRIS ANDREADIS (FR)
Residency period: August 2019
The EXECAL residence at La Becque enabled us to initiate a research project which we entitled “souper solaire” (solar diner). The aim was to explore the potential of available energy (sun, wind, water) and local food, make do with what is there and to produce a meal that would have minimal impact on the environment.
The work we carried out took several forms: documentary research about age-old techniques, drawing, culinary experiments, visits to producers, photography, sculptures and installations. Our ambition was not to improve the efficiency of existing systems but to have a spontaneous and experimental approach to the topic. Alongside the cuisine we designed and developed structures using as little material as possible, made of bamboo and string that served as drying racks.
The first “solar diner” took place at La Becque on Saturday 31 August. Between performance, discussions and exhibition, we aimed to gather guests together around a table to introduce and share our research. The dinner’s menu was developed with the encounters we made and the techniques we came across during the residence, such as drying, cold smoking, preserves in oil, solar cooking, ice making, etc..
Holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from ECAL, Pauline Lemberger is the co-founder of Bouchée Double in Brussels, a studio where she explores the culinary world through scenography, photography, design and drawing. There she develops a global approach to cooking, enhanced during her residencies in Japan and Mexico and her pop-up restaurants. After her Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design at the ECAL, Iris Andreadis studied architecture in Paris. Her practice is driven by a fascination for smart constructions and objects in their economy of means, which she observed during stays in Greece and Hong Kong.
Video: Bouchée Double
Pictures: Pauline Lemberger
Editing: Laurie Greco