Celebrated sculptor Antony Gormley inspires new Art Afternoon Tea at Rosewood London

This September, Rosewood London will launch a sculpture-inspired art afternoon tea in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Arts, to mark the Academy’s new exhibition celebrating the life and work of internationally acclaimed British sculptor, Antony Gormley. The exhibition is the most significant display of Gormley’s works for over a decade, and will bring together both existing works, and pieces created especially for the show.

Rosewood London’s Executive Pastry Chef, Mark Perkins, has taken inspiration from the exhibition’s artworks and elements of Gormley’s life to develop the collection of pastries served in the Antony Gormley Afternoon Tea. The confections on the menu will include:

Body and Fruit (1991-93):

This impressive piece will be displayed at the centre of the exhibition, hanging mere centimetres from the floor and weighing several tonnes. In contrast, Perkins’ incarnation of Body and Fruit will take the form of a light and airy chocolate mousse. Inspired by the time Gormley spent in Sri Lanka studying Buddhism, Perkins has infused flavourful notes of Ceylon tea into the mousse, and paired it with mandarin jelly, praline cremeux and hazelnut financier, with a chocolate coating.

Full Bowl (1977-78):

Gormley’s mother, who was originally from Germany, is the inspiration behind this pastry, which celebrates the famous Black Forest Gateau. The cake comprises a chocolate sponge, cherry compote, whipped white chocolate and vanilla cream, and is decorated with a swirled chocolate decoration brushed in blue to represent the layered pattern made from the 40 stacked ‘bowls’ in the original artwork.

Matrix II (2014):

This monumental installation is made of intersecting rectangular dark steel mesh grids and will be suspended above head height. The structural element of this artwork has been encompassed in the corresponding pastry, which is influenced by English orchards. A latticed chocolate decoration will sit on top of ginger jaconde sponge, filled with pear jelly, caramel cremeux, vanilla glaze, and pear bavarois.

One Apple (1982)

In addition, Perkins has created a series of four different apple pastries, in homage to Gormley’s 1982 work One Apple. These will include an apple mousse, blackberry cheesecake, praline choux, and apple compote at the end. Presented on a marble tray and sprayed with silver to retain a sculptural feel, these will represent different stages of transformation.

The Antony Gormley afternoon tea will be served at Rosewood London’s Mirror Room, starting with a traditional selection of freshly made finger sandwiches and scones. A wide selection of Mariage Freres teas will also be available.

The Art Afternoon Tea is available weekdays from 2:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., and Saturday & Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. It is priced from £60 per person.

Antony Gormley at the Royal Academy of Arts opens on 21st September and is on until 3rd December 2019.

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