Edible Sculptures
The Gaucho Martín Fierro and Atreyu Against Food Waste
Sculptures of figs –and other fruits– are used to ennoble crop wastes through solar drying and modelling. Peaches, pomegranates, apples, pacayes, guavas and blackberries are picked, sliced, arranged on dehydrating nets and joined together to form the Gaucho Martin Fierro, recreate the Neverending Story or express the Miyasaki universe.
The Gaucho Martin Fierro (dried fig paste, dried figs, dried bloodberries, dried roses) and his horse (dried fig paste and apricots).
The Gaucho Martín Fierro in the dry environment of the Siguas Valley.
Dried fig paste serves as a base for all sculptures. Its solid and mellow consistency allows for a long-lasting assembly, which can last up to a year without refrigeration. For dark tones, it is advisable to mix the fig grindings with dried blackberries, which can turn black after drying. This mixture is very useful for its antioxidant content, as both fruits are rich in polyphenols.
"-But why is Fantasia dying then? -Because people have begun to loose their hopes and forget their dreams". Mullbierries, fig paste, pomegranate and dried apple.
Babbaajagas house. Mulberries, dried fig paste and dried apricots.
Mill made with fig paste, dried figs and dried lemon (Sicilia variety).
Biodynamic farm made with different dried fruits and herbs. The main ingredient is the fig paste.
Fig tree made of dried fig paste.
House of the holy mountain.
Nettle Gnom made with dried fig paste facing a young Urtica Dioica (Nettle).
The Faceless, character of Spirit Away, film directed by Hayao Miyasaki (Ghibli).
"The Faceless" in Lima, Peru.
Farmers house made of dried figs and chirimoya.
Gnom made of dried figs and molle branch.
Edible sculptures during the german market in Goethe Institut Lima.
Guava and pacay represent ancient food systems in Peru.
Apricot harvesting. The edible sculptures are made mainly with those exemplars that have irregular forms and are rejected by the industry.
A wasp tasting some apricots before they go to the compost.
Dried apricots and dried figs.
Dried mulberries.
Apricots, mulberries and dried figs in Siguas.
The solar dryer Hohenheim is the main tool for the edible sculptures. This simple structure works with solar cells and dehydrates fruits and vegetables that normally would be lost.
Bibliography
About solar drying: "Trocknen und dörren mit der Sonne" (Hrsg. Lorenz-Ladener, C.). Ökobuch Verlag, 2010.
"El Martín Fierro" (José Hernández).
"The Neverending History" (Michael Ende).