Italy/Sardinia/Discover it!

Knows Her Dough

Christine Armengaud had more than food on her mind when she produced the "Uomini de Pane" (bread people) show. Call it art meets food. The result is a collection of very interesting sculpture. Armengaud's fanciful exhibit follows the tradition of bread decoration in many countries, including the Italian island of Sardinia.

The Lazzaretto Cultural Center of Cagliari is a renovated old hospital of grand proportions where the Bread People "live," for now. Cagliari hosts many traveling exhibits, especially in the summer. We saw a Frank Cappa photography exhibit. An Andy Warhol art show. And visited the Bread People while we were there.

Chiara was our personal guide (thankfully, she spoke good English). She introduced us to this unusual collection of bread sculpture. She explained the individual origins of each "person." The techniques used to make them. And most importantly, their different symbolic meanings: Some are religious. Some are practical. Some decorations are merely frivolous. But all of the work displayed is deeply traditional, created by loving hands. Like folkart.

Upon entry through the dimly lit exhibition space, you're met with a fantastic, life-size devil. But he is too sweet to for the role. His angel wings and befuddled-looking face are in sharp contrast to the pitchfork held in his lumpy hand.

There are traditional bread calendars, where pieces are torn off for each day of the year. A little girl with braids & 7 legs, each one representing a week of the Lenten period. Matrimonial bread, with the bride & groom entwined around each other. Finely detailed bread animals. And little flowers, fruits & other ornamentation that look like candy (except for the toasty brown color).

Large bread sculptures are not very common, since they are completely assembled prior to baking (unlike gingerbread). That means the ovens must be large enough to hold a devil! The breadmaking skills of Sardinian women have always been highly regarded. The island's bread tastes delicious, whatever its form.
Armengaud knows her dough. It took her 15 years to accumulate enough bread from around the world for the exhibit! Besides serving as the curator for the Bread People show, she has won awards for her bread book, aptly named "Le Diable Sucre" or "Sweetened Devil." (In French, but photos great. Available through www.amazon.fr )