Artist Maurizio Cattelan shares a recipe for 'rabbit hunter-style' stew

Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, known for his provocative work, has shared a unique recipe for 'rabbit hunter-style' stew. The dish draws inspiration from a Franciscan monk he encountered in Venice during his teenage years.

Cattelan recounts how the monk, who spent his days building telescopes and discussing science and faith, once described how villagers prepared cats like rabbits during wartime. Intrigued, Cattelan returned later to taste the monk's stew, which he described as delicious. When asked if it was truly cat, the monk simply smiled and suggested calling it 'rabbit'.

This culinary anecdote is shared in conjunction with Cattelan's upcoming exhibition in Germany. The Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin will host his first comprehensive solo exhibition in the country, opening on September 10. The article notes that in some rural inns of Cattelan's youth, rabbits were still served with their heads attached to prove they were not cat meat.

The story offers a glimpse into Cattelan's background and the unconventional experiences that may have shaped his artistic perspective. The recipe itself, presented in the ZEITmagazin, is framed as an unexpected discovery, highlighting how inspiration can arise from surprising sources.