Spanish Food And Design Come Together In Miami

Spain's new international traveling exhibition, "Tapas — Spanish Design for Food," makes its U.S. premiere in Miami from Nov. 9 to Dec. 15. The art exhibition, which combines food, design, and Spanish culture, is set to be on display in Miami for slightly more than a month, including the week of the popular Art Basel event (Dec. 5 to 8).

Honoring the 500th anniversary of Juan Ponce de León arriving in Florida as the first Spaniard, the exhibition is curated by designer and architect Juli Capella and is presented by Acción Cultural Española, working to promote Spanish culture and heritage worldwide, as well as The Centro Cultural Español en Miami (CCE Miami), SPAIN arts & culture, and the España Florida Foundation. 

"Spain chose Miami to premiere 'Tapas' in the U.S. because the global spotlight shines so brightly on this design and food destination, especially as its season takes off during Art Basel Week," Acción Cultural Española's CEO, Elvira Marco, said in a press release. "This new, international traveling cultural experience from Spain aims to engage and mix with the international design and food influences converging in Miami for the love of art."

The art show is exploring the relation between design, food, and culture in Spain, and will take up 8,000 square feet with more than 200 exhibits, displays, and installations by Spanish chefs, designers, architects, wineries, and restaurants. The exhibition covers "the last 25 years of Spain's avant-garde experimental blending of design and food," and will also feature legendary Spanish culinary icons, including the paella pan and traditional wine pitchers, such as the porrón. 

Another interesting element to the show is the way the different displays and installations are presented, split up into three distinct elements:

1. The Kitchen (preparation and utensils)

2. The Table (objects used to sample food)

3. The Meal (food design)

"Tapas" offers a contemporary perspective on design's influence in Spain's culinary world via a number of designs produced exclusively for leading restaurants such as elBulli, El Celler de Can Roca and Mugaritz. Through an audiovisual presentation, visitors will also get insight into interior design in selected Spanish restaurants, and a presentation of wineries from across Spain, which stand out for the quality of their architectural designs, including designs by Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, and Rafael Moneo.