A Delicious Death

Coffee, cake, bitterballen or halva

The importance of eating and drinking during grief cannot be overstated. It gives refreshment in sorrow and helps to deal with death. Food provides energy and comfort. It even creates a small moment of pleasure beyond the boundaries of pain. There are also memories attached to it. Certain dishes, flavours or smells can make you think back years later of deceased loved ones: "She liked that so much."

A Delicious Death allows viewers to see, hear, smell and taste how food plays a role in all moments surrounding death. Did you know that food often goes in the coffin? Documentary photography throughout the exhibition is interwoven in the permanent museum presentation. The museum also shows an extensive collection of old and new mourning services, and you can smell the scents associated with mourning and burial.

Various contemporary artists have also participated in the exhibition, including a penetrating video by Remy Jungerman and a wall of halva by Narges Mohammadi. The fountain in the garden created by Peer Vink is a monument to coffee and cake while culinary historian and filmmaker Kiriko Mechanicus presents seven videos about culinary mourning customs. Petra Possel (from Mangiare!) provides the audio tour.