Kwatta Delicieuse

This duo works with lots of materials. But most people know them from the sculptures of taxidermy (stuffed animals). They find the materials at the taxidermist but for instance also at auctions and antique dealers.

Fear, fate, transience and (morbid) humor are themes in this duo's work.

That jar that you see, contained chocolate paste. You probably know Nutella, but do you know the Kwatta brand? The company was founded in 1877 by two Dutchmen, one was a baker and the other owned a cocoa plantation in Suriname. The cocoa that was used came from the cocoa plantation near Paramaribo. The plantation was called Kwatta.

In 1972 the company was taken over by a Belgian owner. Today, the brand is owned by Heinz, yes, the one from the ketchup. In Belgium you can still buy Kwatta chocolate paste, chocolate sprinkles and cocoa powder. The jar looks a bit different now.

Both Michel Vanderheijden van Tinteren (1965) and Roel Moonen (1966) graduated from the Academy of Visual Arts in Maastricht in plastic design. That’s where they met and where they became a duo.