About

The project is part of an investigation into the archival function of the recipe book and the dimensions of memorabilia, culture, and affectivity contained within this artifact.

 

In Relational Aesthetics, philosopher Nicolas Bourriaud analyzes artworks that patiently weave the fabric of human relations, taking as their theoretical horizon the sphere of human interactions and their social context—rather than the affirmation of an autonomous and private symbolic space.

 

Building on Bourriaud’s concept within the field of aesthetics and incorporating perspectives from co-creation processes, the Migalhas project adopted participatory design methodologies as a way to engage spectators as co-authors of the work. In doing so, it aimed to create a reflective experience around this object, which can be found in contexts ranging from domestic environments—where it narrates a family’s food culture—to museums, where it tells the story of a people’s culinary heritage.

 

The book-archive was part of two art exhibitions in galleries in the city of Campinas, in the state of São Paulo. During these exhibitions, spectators became co-authors of the book-archive by sharing recipes through catalog cards designed specifically for the project. They were invited to write the recipe’s name, ingredients, and preparation method, and then choose one of three categories in which to archive their recipe: autonomy, tradition, or affection.