Construction has begun on a 12-metre-high sculptural pavilion at Waddesdon Manor, a historic house in Buckinghamshire, and will eventually resemble a large wedding cake.
Described as a ‘fully immersive sculpture’, it is designed by Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos, and will take the form of a three-tiered cake which will eventually be clad in ceramic tiles resembling cake decorations.
The artist described the commission as “a temple to love”. Visitors will be able to visit the sculpture on a guided tour which will also include a collection of contemporary sculpture situated in the Water Garden at the Dairy.
The sculpture opens on 8 June 2023 in a grove of trees alongside the 19th-century Dairy, which acts as a wedding and event venue within the grounds.
Waddesdon Manor is owned by the National Trust and managed by the Rothschild Foundation. ‘Wedding Cake’ was commissioned by the Rothschild Foundation, prompted by the relationship between collector Lord Rothschild and Vasconcelos.
Vasconcelos said: “I have been addressing the subject of love through my career for almost 30 years now, but this is my biggest challenge so far. Many artists have the ‘impossible project’ and this is mine. I wanted people to have three different approaches to it: looking from the outside, enjoying the surroundings from the different levels or balconies and rising to the top, finally completing the artwork with their presence.”
Lord Rothschild added: “We are delighted to be collaborating again with Joana Vasconcelos, whose work is already magnificently represented at Waddesdon by her giant candlesticks, Lafite.”
