In the 1940s, Anni Albers challenged her textile students to imagine they were on an isolated seacoast and had only what nature had provided to weave cloth. She called this, exultantly, "Starting At Zero."
18 Months ago, Elena Arzak took on the challenge Anni set all those years ago. On the 6th of December she presented her menu inspired by Anni Albers: her work, her life, and the thrill of Starting At Zero.
To honour these two creative pioneers, every penny raised from this event will go to support the construction of a desperately needed, beautiful new Maternity and Paediatric Hospital in Tambacounda, a project in rural Senegal being undertaken by the Albers Foundation.
ELENA ARZAK
Elena Arzak is the 4th generation of her family to run the kitchen at Michelin 3 starred Restaurante Arzak in San Sebastián, Spain.
ANNI ALBERS
Anni Albers was a German-born American textile artist, printmaker, and a student of the Bauhaus. Her texts On Designing (1959) and On Weaving (1965), are to this day regarded at the level of holy writ in many art, design, and textile courses.
TAMBACOUNDA HOSPITAL
Tambacounda Maternity and Paediatric Unit in South-Eastern Senegal, has been designed by Swiss architect Manuel Herz, using ground breaking design, bringing together beauty and functionality to the poorest, yet most populated rural region of Senegal.