The art world mourns the loss of Daniel Spoerri, the pioneering Romanian-born artist who revolutionized the way we think about food, memory, and art. Spoerri, who passed away at 94, was a defining figure of the 20th century avant-garde and the creator of Eat Art—a concept that merged the culinary with the artistic, pushing boundaries and challenging conventions of consumption, ephemerality, and communal experience.
Born Daniel Isaac Feinstein in Galați, Romania, Spoerri’s journey from Eastern Europe to the global art stage was nothing short of remarkable. Fleeing the turmoil of World War II, he eventually settled in Switzerland, where he studied dance before embracing performance art, theater, and ultimately visual art. His multicultural background and personal history of displacement and survival influenced his work, giving it an awareness of transience and memory.
Eat Art
Eat Art, a concept Spoerri developed in the 1960s, used food as both subject and medium. This approach turned the act of eating into an artistic performance, inviting participants to question the nature of art and the rituals surrounding meals. Spoerri’s pieces were not only art forms but also events, uniting people in shared, ephemeral experiences. Through meals and food-inspired installations, Spoerri emphasized that, like life, art is often temporary and meant to be savored in the moment. With this concept, the former dancer founded the “New Realism” movement in 1960, alongside artists such as Yves Klein, Arman, Raymond Hains, and Jean Tinguely.
This philosophy was encapsulated in the Eat Art Gallery, which he established in Düsseldorf, offering a platform for experimental dining and food-based artworks. Between 1968 and 1972, Daniel Spoerri went so far as to run a real restaurant in Düsseldorf, Germany, where customers who could afford it could leave with their own artworks. He complemented this initiative by creating the Eat Art gallery, where artists like César, Ben, and Arman exhibited ephemeral edible creations, while painters such as Pierre Soulages took part in some of his banquets.
Spoerri’s Eat Art concept had a ripple effect, inspiring future generations of artists to explore food as a means of expression and communication. His art provided a new lens to examine how meals bring people together, creating memories that, while transient, carry deep personal and cultural significance. Through his works, Spoerri challenged viewers to embrace impermanence, recognize beauty in the ordinary, and find art in the simplest acts of life.
Daniel Spoerri, a pioneering figure in the art world, is renowned for his innovative contributions to contemporary art. Born in Galați, Romania, in 1930, Spoerri’s journey from Eastern Europe to international acclaim is a testament to his profound impact on the art community.
In May 2023, Spoerri was the special guest at the inaugural edition of MoBU, the International Art Fair of Bucharest. Held at Romaero Băneasa, this event marked a significant moment in Romania’s art scene. Spoerri’s personal exhibition, titled “A Moment for Eternity / Daniel Spoerri, O Clipă pentru eternitate,” featured 120 of his works, offering visitors a comprehensive view of his artistic evolution.
Spoerri’s influence extends beyond Romania. His works are part of prestigious collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, Tate Modern in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
