Unexpected Encounters: A Journey into the Chocolate-Covered World of Anya Gallaccio
I never thought I would walk into a shop on Paisley High Street and find every last inch of it covered with chocolate paint. But that was before Anya Gallaccio’s STROKE exhibition came to town. Paisley-born artist Gallaccio has taken over a formerly vacant retail unit at 18 High Street and coated the place from floor to ceiling in chocolate. Why exactly? Who knows, but it’s not the first time she’s done it; a number of venues across the globe have felt the full force of her dark chocolate decors.
The installation has been getting a lot of attention, so I thought I’d pop in and see what all the fuss is about. It’s free after all. Outside, the bright red shopfront with the artist’s name in golden letters acts as an eye-grabbing wrapper – somewhat reminiscent of a Cadbury Bournville bar.
An Immersive Chocolate Experience
Going in, the first thing that strikes you is the smell. It’s an absolute hit to the face of pure cacao. Providing you like chocolate – and this exhibition will present a challenge otherwise – it’s an enchanting aroma; the kind of smell that makes you fancy a wee nibble of something sweet. Which brings me on to the big question – can you lick the walls? The installation’s title, STROKE, does seem to tacitly condone some physical interaction. Peering closely, a number of scratch marks are visible. The two very friendly attendees on hand tell me that the combination of sunlight, chocolate, and toddlers has already required the odd mopping of the floor.
Walking around the room, the temptation is certainly there to engage senses other than vision and smell – according to Gallaccio, the people of Japan did not hesitate to sample the exhibition when it was shown there a few years ago. In my case, with the two helpers focused upon me, I refrained from getting up close and personal with the paintwork. Not going to lie though; I probably would have had a quick taste if I’d been alone – in the name of journalism of course.
Decay and Transformation: Unraveling the Concept
It’s hard not to question what the point of all this is. Does it make sense to turn a shop in Paisley into something resembling Willy Wonka’s private chambers? An attendant tells me to consider the installation through the theme of ‘decay’ – it will evolve and melt and change in color, and it’s worth viewing it multiple times to fully appreciate it, she says. This is a cool idea, though she also tells me that several people have compared the paint to splattered fecal matter, so you do wonder whether the conceptual message is getting across.
Either way, it’s a memorable experience. Different people will take different things from it, but most will be compelled to talk about it afterwards. It’s weird, and you can’t help but wonder why on earth it exists – but it does exist, it’s free, and it smells amazing, so you might as well check it out. Just go with someone who can distract the attendants while you lick. STROKE is free for all to enter at 18 High Street, Paisley, until December 31.