Artwork
70 x 7 The Meal, act IV Dieuze
Lucy + Jorge Orta, 2000
- Ref: 0600.04
- Materials: An open-air lunch for 3000 people. Manufacture Royal Limoges porcelain plate, enamel 3 colours, ed of 1500 plates dated and signed by the artist; 300m silkscreen printed table runner
- Concept: Dieuze, a small agricultural town in the north east of France, became the setting for a open-air meal for the entire population of 3000. An edition of 1500 Royal Limoges porcelain plates and a bright red hand silkscreen printed tablecloth measuring 300m were commissioned for the event. The entire population became involved in the creation of a manifesto for the millennium which was silkscreen printed on the table runner that stretched the length of the main street from the Salt Mine to the Town Hall. The Limoges plates became the prized memento of the event and the local contemporary art centre sold over half the edition the same day, a successful example of the need for rural communities to reconnect and forge a collective identity. “A local association asked us to save money and use paper plates, to which we replied: You can use them, but you don’t need us or art at all. The heart of the project is the relational object which will be cherished way beyond the event, they are beautiful hand crafted limited edition objects made by the last of the occidental porcelain factories in Europe, the tradition of porcelain is a dying craft to be supported. If you want to create more rubbish, more junk then that’s fine, but we know that the people participating prefer to be considered as individuals worthy of something more special. We sold 750 plates on the day to this poor rural community and this was such a break through – imagine low income families that have never been to a museum, they were part of a moving and inspiring event and believed enough to purchase the shared moment – we create the plates to remind people that they can continue inviting someone to their table – this is really the most symbolic part of the event and it’s the principle concept of 70 x 7. Lucy Orta”
