The Art of Dining
A playful, hyper-British dining experience inspired by Martin Parr’s most iconic images.
Martin Parr: The Art of Dining was a groundbreaking immersive experience that brought the iconic photography of Martin Parr off the gallery wall and onto the dinner plate. Presented for the first time within the context of an art fair, the project invited guests to step into Parr’s hyper-saturated, quintessentially British world - and quite literally taste it.
A four-course meal reimagined some of Parr’s most recognisable food subjects including tea, sandwiches, pie, and custard, transformed into inventive, globally inspired dishes by chef Ellen Parr. The experience took place in a specially designed set by Alice Hodge, who translated the humour and visual language of Parr’s work into a physical, theatrical dining environment.
Title
Martin Parr: The Art of Dining
Type
Immersive Art & Dining Experience
Client/Artist
Martin Parr
Curated by
Ryan Stanier
Collaborators
Chef: Ellen Parr (Moro-trained) Set Design: Alice Hodge
Objectives
- To reinterpret Martin Parr’s photography through food and spatial design.
- To engage art fair goers in a multi-sensory, participatory art experience.
- To highlight themes of British identity, cultural kitsch, and everyday ritual.
- To attract collectors, media, and culturally engaged audiences through an innovative event format.
Target Audience
- Contemporary art enthusiasts
- Culinary and design communities
- VIP guests and press
- Creative and culturally curious audiences
Experience Elements
- The Living Room Bar: A welcome space styled as a nostalgic British domestic interior, serving retro cocktails inspired by Parr’s photography.
- The Dining Space: A fully immersive installation that echoed Parr’s visual world, complete with vibrant props, saturated colours, and curated details.
- The Menu: A four-course journey designed by Ellen Parr, offering playful, unexpected reinterpretations of Parr’s iconic food imagery.
Tone & Aesthetic
- Bold, colourful, and irreverent
- Humorous yet refined
- A celebration of British eccentricity and visual storytelling
Deliverables
- Full creative concept and curation
- Spatial and set design production
- Catering and menu development
- Guest experience and event flow
- Photography, documentation, and PR assets
The Art of Dining offered guests a rare opportunity to engage with photography in a radically new way - not just to view, but to taste, touch, and inhabit the art. A celebration of British eccentricity, humour, and the ordinary made extraordinary.
Thinking about introducing art into your space?
From homes to workplaces to social spaces, art has the power to shift how environments are seen, felt and remembered.
If you’re shaping a space and exploring the role art could play, we’d love to hear from you.
