Sans titre (hommage)

Performance: a 7-square-meter rug made of Pasteis de Nata, Portuguese pastries

Pasteis de nata is a traditional Portuguese pastry that has been around since the 19th century, made with fresh cream and puff pastry. At the opening of the “Art envie” exhibition, Pedro Pereira covered the floor at the gallery entrance with them, covering an area of 7 m².

The art of pastry-making originated in Portugal in religious convents: the recipe for pasteis was created by the monks of Jerónimos. We can therefore understand the artist’s gesture as an obviously symbolic act—that of offering an element unique to his culture as a sign of welcome. But this gift remains highly relative and paradoxical given its mandatory and systematic nature, since visitors were required to eat in order to enter the space.

Alexandra Gillet