Sant Stomak (since 2009)

Sant Stomak. FoodCultura Satellite Boquería, Barcelona, 2015-2018

 

On the 16`th of October 2009, FoodCultura celebrated Sant Stomak with the idea of participating in the global discussion of food and the contradictions surrounding it (hunger versus obesity, the undernourishment of processed food, tourism versus diaspora…). In consonance with the anniversary of World Food Day and its intention of raising awareness of the challenge of feeding the world, FoodCultura contributes to this initiative through its unique perspective that contemplates art and anthropology, taking into account the vast complex of beliefs, values, customs, techniques, and representations related to food.

A language that is particular to art allows FoodCultura to focus on these reflections through the exploration and combination of symbols and material objects. In 2015 Antoni Miralda, director and co-founder along with Montse Guillén of FoodCultura, designed a reliquary with the collaboration of the architects Flores & Prats in the form of a wooden cabinet with gold leafing inspired by a bronze Neapolitan ex-voto which the artist found in the archives of the MUCEM in Marseille. This was the first of many to be representations of Sant Stomak that are spreading its cult throughout the world.

Sant Stomak. FoodCultura Archive, Barcelona

This cabinet-reliquary was installed in stand #437 of La Boqueria of Barcelona, the oldest food market in Europe. FoodCultura transformed the stand into an interactive art center in which numerous artistic projects related to food were exhibited. Many of the exhibits and performances were the result of in situ investigations that explored the relationships of art with food with the idea of connecting La Boqueria with other cultural centers and artistic events (MACBA, ACVIC, Massana, EINA, Loop, La Place, and others). Art was placed in a food market and a food market was placed in art, all under the vigil of Sant Stomak who would receive in its belly the prayers and offerings of curious visitors and customers as one more aspect of the market’s life. Now the Saint is back in Poble Nou, the headquarters of Fundación FoodCultura, presiding over the vast Sant Stomak library and welcoming interested visitors. It continues to be honored each year on its day.

In 2019 Miralda and Alicia Ríos, a frequent collaborator at FoodCultura, organized the Saint’s day in Cádiz with a new image of the Saint. A newspaper created for the occasion, FoodCultura Cádiz News, published the activities program handed out at the entrance next to the “Reticula Stomakalis”*. The celebration lasted two days and included interactive rituals, projections of stomach imagery, poetic digestive chirigotas (typical carnival songs of Cádiz), and a menu of the Saint’s specialties: tongue, viscera empanadas, chocolate “sausages” from Saint Caganer (Pooper in Catalan), seasonal nutraceuticals and wine. This celebration enthused the festive people of Cádiz who venerated the Saint with saetas and verses thus extending its cult to Andalucía.

Sant Stomak. Cádiz, 2019

Sant Stomak manifested itself in 2020 in its third incarnation in Ferrán Adriá’s new restaurant, elBulli1846. Miralda and Adriá chose the restaurant´s pantry as the ideal place for Miralda´s intervention baptizing the space as the Capella Rebost (Pantry Chapel in Catalan). Miralda resorted to the original Neapolitan ex-voto, but this time it is monumental, made of wood with glass shelves, gold leafing, curved spoons as handles, and LED lighting.

Sant Stomak. elBulli1846, Roses (Girona), 2020

This year’s celebration in elBulli1846 included the ritual of the gastric juice (the late Juli Soler’s favorite sherry, who created the restaurant along with Ferrán Adriá). The liquid was consumed ceremoniously with a medicinal teaspoon not only lubricating the ceremony but also emphasizing the healing aspect of food so essential within the concepts of FoodCultura.  One can think of FoodCultura as a vehicle dedicated to the healing of society through cultural as well as physical nourishment. It is no coincidence that the text accompanying the image that was distributed along with the gastric juice in the Capella Rebost reads: “May you, Sant Stomak, be our nutraceutical.”

* A lace pouch for the offerings inspired by the Roman pouch used in Roman banquets.

Offerings, 2015-2020

Sant Stomak_

Cabinet-reliquary: Miralda, Flores & Prats 

Print: Miralda, Ilaria Mauro. (Image: Ex-voto, Naples. 

MuCEM, Marseille Collection)

Collaborators: Montse Guillén, Alicia Ríos, Blanca Pujals, Alfonso Borragán, 
Joan Carbó, Yaiza Bocos, Coralí Mercader, Desirée Martínez, Rosi Morales, 
Mariona Castellví, Van Van Food, Mancebia Postigo... 

Video: Benet Rossell