Rirkrit Tiravanija Designs Boat-Inspired Dining Installation for We Are Ona
Artist Rirkrit Tiravanija transforms traditional Thai fishing vessels into communal dining tables in Paris.
1Art Basel Paris Collaboration
Artist Rirkrit Tiravanija has unveiled two monumental stainless steel tables for Dalad’s, a temporary restaurant project by We Are Ona. Located near Place de l’Étoile, the installation operates during Art Basel Paris from October 18 to 25, 2026. The project serves as the debut for this new hospitality concept.
2Thai Fishing Boat Inspiration
The design draws directly from Thailand’s historic waterways and informal food culture. Tiravanija reinterprets the silhouette of traditional fishing boats into modular stainless steel structures. These pieces function as both a vehicle and a platform, reflecting the artist’s memories of vendors preparing boat noodle soup directly from the water.
3Dissolving Culinary Boundaries
Luca Pronzato, founder of We Are Ona, emphasizes that the boats serve as the structural backbone of the installation. By integrating steam pots into the long communal tables, the design eliminates the separation between the kitchen and the dining room. This arrangement allows guests to observe chefs working in real-time.
4Chef Dalad Kambhu’s Vision
Chef Dalad Kambhu, known for her Michelin-starred work at Kin Dee in Berlin, leads the culinary experience. She combines traditional Thai flavors with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. The pop-up offers a four-course lunch and an eight-course dinner, focusing on the act of sharing food within a communal, interactive environment.
5Art as Lived Experience
We Are Ona continues its series of temporary culinary experiences that connect gastronomy with art and architecture. For Pronzato, artworks are not static objects but experiences to be lived. The installation is activated through the presence of diners and the conversations that emerge around the tables, blurring traditional exhibition boundaries.
6Cultural Identity and Authenticity
The collaboration explores the challenges of preparing Thai cuisine in foreign locations where traditional ingredients may be scarce. Tiravanija and Kambhu use this project to examine personal identity and authenticity. The spatial arrangement and tableware reflect their shared histories, turning the act of dining into a collective, evolving artwork.
7Operational Design and Capacity
The temporary restaurant accommodates up to 100 guests per session, replacing conventional dining arrangements with two elongated structures. By placing chefs and visitors in the same space, the project challenges standard hospitality models. This approach prioritizes social interaction, ensuring that the environment changes dynamically with every gathering of guests.
8Legacy of Collaborative Projects
This installation marks Kambhu’s third collaboration with We Are Ona, following previous projects with designers Harry Nuriev and Marc Leschelier. By merging contemporary art with functional dining, the team continues to push the limits of hospitality. The project underscores the belief that a beautiful meal shared with others is art.