YES, CHEF Exhibition and Pop-Up Restaurant Open Through Oct. 20
The YES, CHEF exhibition, now open through October 20 at Water Street Projects (WSA, 161 Water Street), is a captivating blend of art and food. The show inaugurates WSA’s new multi-purpose exhibition space, and is the first event in a year-long festival hosted by WSA called FEAST, which will explore contemporary culture and its intersection with the culinary arts.
As you enter the exhibition, a mesmerizing soundscape fills the space. Curated by Zoe Lukov, YES, CHEF features works from 35 artists exploring themes of food, power, and ritual. Here is a food-adorned chandelier, there a deep-fried flag inspired by Black diasporic cooking. A standout piece is artist Tavares Strachan’s Black Caesar, a monument to Septimius Severus, the African-born Roman emperor. Rising from a rice field—a staple in the Afro-Caribbean diet—the sculpture sheds light on a lesser-known figure and challenges traditional perceptions of the Roman Empire.
Building on this theme, the exhibition is also hosting the pop-up restaurant Black Caesar, inspired by Strachan’s monument. Open for lunch and dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, it offers a fusion menu highlighting North African and Roman Italian cuisine.
The exhibition is free to the public and open Friday to Sunday from noon to 8pm, through October 20, 2024, at 161 Water Street.