05 Oct ‘British Museum of Food’ – Has Anything Sounded Better?
London isn’t exactly short on museums – whether you’re into science, transport or history, we’ve got it covered. But if we had to pick holes, the one thing our city is lacking is a museum dedicated to everyone’s favourite pastime – face-stuffing. But that’s all about to change because the foodie-obsessive folks at Bompas & Parr are set to launch their own British Museum of Food.
But don’t expect the walls to be filled with arty photographs of pulled pork, as the museum will explore the history, evolution, science, sociology and art of food. Never before has the subject of food been explored so powerfully, with a series of exhibits that align with the quirky and disruptive style of the studio’s approach to communicating food and drink coupled with the ethos and values of a serious museum.
Opening for three months from 23rd-October, the museum is a proof of concept as it seeks a permanent home. Located in a building at Borough Market across two floors, Bompas & Parr is collaborating with the market’s managers, trustees and traders as well as a selection of different artists to initiate a new cultural institution for the capital.
Through its exhibits and experiences the museum aims to showcase the most exciting elements of food. Fundamentally it will seek to change peoples’ lives by helping them consider what they eat and to spread knowledge around nutrition and health and to recognise its role in culture. As it builds a permanent collection, it will seek to become a globally recognised national resource, a platform for experimentation and innovation, and a body that can advise government policy makers on anything related to food.
It kicks off with an exhibition dedicated to the humble English breakfast as interpreted by different artists, a chocolate ‘sonic wonderland’ where taste is paired with sound, and an in-depth look at how food travels through the body from the mouth to the intensities. Yum.