ESSEN ESSEN

Masatoshi Noguchi

Artist / Designer in Residence project 

Photos: Dominik Antoni Krolikowski, Masatoshi Noguchi, SBYD.SPACE

Playing on the double meaning of »Essen« – both city and food – he reflected artistically on human bodily cycles, ecological loops, and resource use. In Japan, it’s widely known that watermelon has diuretic/detoxifying properties.

Recipe: »You sweat, I sorbet« (Watermelon Rose Sorbet)

Yields:
Approx. 1 litre
Prep time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
– Seedless watermelon juice: 1 litre
– Brown sugar: 11 teaspoons
– Lime juice: 4 teaspoons
– Rose water(Chtoura): 11 drops (Rose water has a strong scent, so use it sparingly.)
– Salt: 1/5 – 1/4 teaspoon

Equipment:
– Blender
– Strainer
– Ice cube molds

Instructions:
1 – Blend watermelon cubes until smooth, then strain to remove any seeds. Measure 1 liter of juice.
2 – Add brown sugar, lime juice, rose water, and salt to the watermelon juice. Blend again until the sugar is fully dissolved.
3 – Pour the mixture into ice cube molds and freeze until solid.
4 – Once frozen, remove cubes from molds. Blend or pulse in a food processor until it reaches a slushy, sorbet-like consistency. Serve immediately.
5 – Optional: Garnish with fresh mint, a sprinkle of cardamom powder, or a touch more salt or rose water.

The work was presented at the Gutes Klima Festival 2025 in cooperation with Bonnekamp-Stiftung and the Museum Folkwang at Zeche Carl.

 This residency was part of SBYD.SPACE, through which Folkwang University awards grants to international artists and designers invited to Essen to realise their own projects on site. In 2025, the programme’s second round was announced in Japan. In collaboration with Museum Folkwang and the Goethe-Institut Kyoto Villa Kamogawa, the thematic focus was developed and the grant recipients selected.