SECRET KITCHEN

Can we cook?

Secret Kitchen, 2003-2005
Rosewood, granite, glass and stainless steel
Edition 2
H90 x W500 x D180cm
© Mark Humphrey

COLLECTORS
Private collectors

COLLABORATOR
Decorex

AWARD
Condé Nast

LOCATION
Chelsea, London, UK

“SECRET KITCHEN TAKES THE KITCHEN OUT OF THE KITCHEN. HAND-CRAFTED FROM ROSEWOOD, GRANITE, GLASS AND STAINLESS STEEL, THIS FULLY FUNCTIONING CULINARY ENVIRONMENT CONTAINS EVERYTHING NEEDED TO PREPARE, COOK AND EAT – BROUGHT TOGETHER WITHIN A SINGLE SCULPTURAL FORM.

THERE ARE NO WALLS. NO SEPARATE ROOMS. NO HIDDEN KITCHEN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. COOKING HAPPENS ADJACENT TO THE DINING AREA, PLACING PREPARATION AND CONSUMPTION FACE TO FACE. THE MAKING OF FOOD BECOMES PART OF THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE.

THE PRECISION OF THE KITCHEN RECALLS A PRODUCTION LINE, WHERE EVERY MOVEMENT, DETAIL AND PROCESS HAS ITS PLACE. YET AT ITS CENTRE IS SOMETHING FAR MORE HUMAN: THE INTIMATE ACT OF COOKING FOR OTHERS, SITTING TOGETHER, EATING, TALKING AND SHARING.

EVERY ELEMENT HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY DESIGNED AND CONSIDERED, MAKING MAXIMUM USE OF A CONTAINED SPACE. WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PIECE OF FURNITURE BECOMES A COMPLETE KITCHEN, DINING TABLE AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT. IT NEEDS NO ROOM OF ITS OWN. THE FLOOR BECOMES ITS PLINTH; THE SURROUNDING SPACE BECOMES ITS GALLERY.

THE WORK TURNS ONE OF THE MOST FAMILIAR SPACES IN OUR LIVES INTO AN ARTWORK – WHERE COOKING BECOMES PERFORMANCE, DINING BECOMES AN EXPERIENCE, AND THE EVERYDAY BECOMES SOMETHING TO LOOK AT AGAIN.”

Mark Humphrey

“MARK MAKES BESPOKE SCULPTURAL MASTERPIECES FOR HIS COLLECTORS.”

BBC2