Gilded Sustainability: A Feast Without Waste
Creator
Elizaveta Gordeeva
Category
Conceptual & Fine Art
Subcategory
Food (Conceptual Food Art)
Prize
Special Recognition
Project Description
This project reinterprets the opulence of the Rococo banquet through the lens of modern sustainability. Set in a grand 18th-century-inspired dining hall, the table is adorned with exquisite sandwiches, pastries, and desserts—each crafted from seasonal ingredients, with a focus on minimal waste and health-conscious preparation. Unlike traditional feasts that embody excess, this setting celebrates mindful indulgence, ensuring that every dish is savored and nothing is discarded.
The décor follows the same sustainable ethos. Rather than relying on fresh flowers that last only a day and require significant resources to grow, the space is filled with elegant, reusable elements—dried grasses, branches, and edible decorations such as artichokes, cauliflower, pomegranates, and mushrooms. These edible elements are not only visually striking but can be repurposed in future cooking, reinforcing the project’s commitment to sustainability. Even eggshells, remnants from meal preparation, are incorporated into the aesthetic, showing that sophistication and sustainability can truly coexist.
The message behind this series is clear: true luxury lies not in abundance, but in the conscious use of resources. By merging the opulent beauty of Rococo with sustainable principles, the project challenges traditional notions of extravagance and encourages a new way of thinking—where refinement and responsibility go hand in hand.
The décor follows the same sustainable ethos. Rather than relying on fresh flowers that last only a day and require significant resources to grow, the space is filled with elegant, reusable elements—dried grasses, branches, and edible decorations such as artichokes, cauliflower, pomegranates, and mushrooms. These edible elements are not only visually striking but can be repurposed in future cooking, reinforcing the project’s commitment to sustainability. Even eggshells, remnants from meal preparation, are incorporated into the aesthetic, showing that sophistication and sustainability can truly coexist.
The message behind this series is clear: true luxury lies not in abundance, but in the conscious use of resources. By merging the opulent beauty of Rococo with sustainable principles, the project challenges traditional notions of extravagance and encourages a new way of thinking—where refinement and responsibility go hand in hand.



