Introducing our latest artist project BSP AP 003, a collaboration with leading contemporary artist XU ZHEN®️.

Born in 1977, Xu Zhen lives and works in Shanghai and is an iconic figure in Chinese contemporary art, working across sculpture, painting, video and installation media.

This collaboration is a response to his celebrated series of works, Under Heaven. Created by filling pastry bags with oil colours, the technique is true to the art of decorating cakes. The canvass is covered in dense cream flowers in pops of strawberry red, grape purple, mocha green, milk white, and chocolate black. The work is fragrant, fragile, joyful, and decadent, with intertwined layers resembling a miraculous rainbow candy.

Our edible edition reverses the original work - a cake emphasising cream's presence and sculptural nature. Decorated using Xu Zhen's original piping equipment, its mouthwatering appearance and rich filling fulfil the visual feast of the original work. The dual characteristics of edible and collectable add playfulness to the project.

Inside, Earl Grey sponge cake with Bailey's liqueur intersects with two purple layers made from sweet potato and taro mousse. The contrast between traditional Chinese ingredients and Western cake-making techniques pays tribute to the cross-cultural quality of Xu Zhen's artistic practice.

Exclusive to our Shanghai store, the cake will be available in two editions: Limited and Open.

The Limited Edition cake (just 260 made) is round, with a diameter of 15cm. Each is placed in a customised cake box with Xu Zhen's perforated logo on the top and comes with a certificate of authenticity for its collectors.

The Open Edition cake is a rectangular single-slice. A monumental Xu Zhen original painting will be displayed in Black Star Pastry's tea room gallery during the event.

Black Star Pastry's Under Heaven Cake will be available from 21st October 2022. Cakes can be pre-ordered on Black Star Pastry's Wechat Mini Program (Search Black Star Pastry on WeChat) or by visiting our Shanghai Flagship Store at 1265 Yuyuan Road, Changning District.