Rirkrit Tiravanija's Boat-Inspired Dining Experience at Art Basel Paris
Artist Rirkrit Tiravanija, in collaboration with We Are Ona and chef Dalad Kambhu, unveiled an extraordinary culinary installation at Art Basel Paris 2026. This temporary dining experience, named Dalad's, features monumental stainless steel tables meticulously crafted to resemble traditional Thai fishing boats. More than mere furniture, these structures ingeniously combine dining surfaces with fully functional kitchens, integrating seating and steam pots that enable chefs to prepare and serve food directly to guests. The initiative aims to re-imagine the dining experience by fostering social interaction and placing cooking at the heart of an architectural setting, drawing inspiration from the rich culinary traditions of Thailand.
The concept behind these boat-shaped tables stems from Tiravanija's childhood memories of vibrant Thai waterways, where vendors skillfully prepared and sold boat noodle soup from their vessels. This cultural heritage deeply influenced his decision to unite the kitchen and dining areas, transforming the tables into platforms for both sustenance and cultural exchange. The modular stainless steel designs not only pay homage to the iconic silhouette of fishing boats but also symbolize their dual role as transport and trade hubs. This thoughtful integration challenges conventional restaurant layouts, bringing diners closer to the culinary process and the expertise of the chefs.
Dalad's, which ran from October 18 to 25, 2026, was the inaugural project from chef Dalad Kambhu and Luca Pronzato, founder of We Are Ona. The pop-up aimed to redefine contemporary Thai cuisine through shared experiences, offering multi-course meals served directly from the interactive tables. This venture marked Kambhu's third collaboration with We Are Ona, underscoring their commitment to blending gastronomy with innovative design. The immersive setup, accommodating up to 100 guests, encouraged a collective dining atmosphere where both chefs and patrons shared a common space, enhancing the sense of community and participation.
Luca Pronzato highlighted another inspiration for the boat-themed design: the practice of repurposing old fishing boats into floating restaurants. He noted how this approach eliminates the traditional separation between the kitchen and dining room, making the boats the foundational element of the entire installation. The integrated steam pods further dissolve these boundaries, allowing the culinary preparation to unfold directly on the communal tables, creating an intimate and engaging experience for everyone involved.
At the core of the culinary offerings was Thai-American chef Dalad Kambhu, renowned for her Michelin-starred restaurant Kin Dee in Berlin. Her distinctive culinary philosophy blends classic Thai flavors with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. For Dalad's, she delved deeper into the connections between food, cultural heritage, and geographical context, presenting a menu that reflected these themes. The collaboration also highlighted the strong bond between Kambhu and Tiravanija, who frequently discussed the complexities of preparing authentic Thai cuisine in international settings, questioning concepts of cultural identity and culinary authenticity.
We Are Ona, established by Pronzato in 2019, consistently explores the intersection of gastronomy with art, architecture, and design. Their involvement in Dalad's aligns with Tiravanija's artistic practice, which often blurs the lines between artist, audience, and artwork by incorporating everyday activities like cooking and eating. For Pronzato, art transcends mere observation; it is a lived experience. The installation's tables provide the physical structure, but it is the dynamic interplay between chefs and guests that truly brings the artwork to life, transforming dining into a collective artistic endeavor. As Tiravanija eloquently expressed, a delightful meal shared with friends and even strangers can be a profound work of art.