One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives

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The Four Senses

Posted by Christopher Hogan on April 6, 2012
Posted in: Artist in residence. Tagged: . Leave a Comment

To See+To Taste+To Hear+To Smell

Chocolate Degustation Menu by Christopher Hogan

Chocolate Degustation Menu by Christopher Hogan

Sight   =  Divine Designs by Artist in Residence, myself, Christopher Hogan

Taste   =  Degustation menu by the chefs at One&Only Reethi Rah

Sound =  Delightful music played by magical musician, Glenn Atkin

Smell   =  Delicious Chocolate by master chocolatier Laurent Gerbaud

I was asked to take part in tonight’s ‘Chocolate Degustation Dinner’, an Easter event, which has been heralded as a celebration to ‘uncover the marriage of scent, taste, vision and tune’.

I am part of a star-studded cast of World Recognised Experts in Art, Music, Wine and Fine Food lined up for the event.

All artist’s in residence here at One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives.

For my part, I have Designed and painted Original Works of Art on the menus.  I was inspired by Mark Hehir, the General Manager at the One&Only Reethi Rah, when he talked of mixing chocolate with chilli and as he talked, I started to envisage ‘patterns of my marine theme of “Reef Series” images, floating in chocolate over the page, mixed with the tough, dried, spiciness of hot red chilli’ .  I rushed back to my studio and started to pencil sketch my thoughts and I am very happy with the result, each menu is unique, just as each dish and each song will be tonight.

Mixtures of textures, colour, feel and light emulate from these miniature works of art.  I have used a wonderful pearlised acrylic paint, that I stumbled upon on a recent trip to Taiwan, it is made from crushed Mother of Pearl and I can see the light bouncing from the paper under the soft lights over the degustation dinner. Exciting all the senses.

The performance will not stop there, I will be stimulating the fifth sense, the sense of touch!  I will be encouraging the guests to get up close and personal, as I demonstrate my bold painting style and create on canvas, an art work that will reflect the essence of combining my abstract form of artistic expression with the culinary delights presented during the evening, focusing on the star, CHOCOLATE.

I know that the guests will become involved with the process and have some fun, as I progress with my painting, which I am sure, will stimulate conversation as well as the appetite for the evening ahead.

I will be trying my best to blow the guests away!