#50 An Edible Family in a Mobile Home, Bobby Baker
50 opportunities for 50 years
In 1975 Acme acquired several prefab houses from the GLC (Greater London Council) in Condor Street and Camdenhurst Street in Stepney, East London.
Artist Bobby Baker was living in one of these prefabs at 13 Condor Street, where she planned a weeklong installation entitled An Edible Family in a Mobile Home (1976).
For this project, Bobby constructed a life-size family of five from cake, meringues and biscuits to inhabit the rooms of the prefab. Subverting the perennial gallery demand to “Do Not Touch”, viewers were instead invited to consume the work by slicing off pieces of the sculptures and washing them down with hot tea made by the artist in situ.
A replica of this prefabricated East London Acme house was installed outside of Tate Britain as part of the Women in Revolt exhibition. Visitors were invited into the home to sample the edible sculptures whilst browsing the interior.
As part of our 50th anniversary, Acme sponsored the employment of two aspiring artists to be paid the London Living wage working as performative hosts in An Edible Family in a Mobile Home. This was in partnership with You Make It, an award-winning race and class inclusion charity.
“Bobby Baker has just been such an inspiration,” said Laurana (Ranai) Munur, one of the hosts. “Bobby’s upbeat attitude towards everything has just opened my eyes and taught me to become more of a confident artist myself whenever I feel like my abilities are not enough.”
Another host, Dimple Desai, said “it has been a very motivational experience. Being surrounded by art, being in a space and a room where people constantly interact with us and talk about their opinions or feelings. It reminds me to keep going... I know that once this employment is over, I have the motivation to get back into my work whenever I find the time and make sure my dream becomes true.”