Galleria Campari exhibition pops up at Osteria at the Barbican

The average consumer might not be familiar with the drink advertising campaigns that trace the history of 20^th century Italian art – but then again Campari is not your average drink, with a secret recipe dating back to 1860 that serves as a base for some of the world’s most famous cocktails. Campari’s art gallery in Milan is on tour in London from August 4^th until the 31^st December at Osteria, Barbican, aiming to provide cocktail enthusiasts with some of the history and context of the Campari brand to enjoy alongside a range of their drinks.

Galleria Campari opened in Italy in 2010 to mark Campari’s 150^th birthday, and this is the first time the brand’s iconic artwork collection has been on display in London. The exhibition starts with Leonetto Cappiello’s Lo Spirititello, and traces some of the brand’s best known advertising campaigns up until Nino Manni’s L’Olimpionico Degli Aperitivi, made especially for the 1960 Olympic games. An interest in Italian art movements is by no means a prerequisite to take something away from this exhibition – anyone with an interest in brands and advertising will undoubtedly be intrigued, as will the general consumer or cocktail enthusiast looking for a more stimulating drinking environment than the brickwork and exposed plumbing in most cocktail bars nowadays.

The offering here is really three-pronged: in addition to the artwork scattered throughout the Osteria, there is a range of Campari-based cocktails to try, including a flight of Negronis that highlight different takes on this classic drink. Equally appealing is the food menu, developed by Anthony Demetre (the Michelin-starred chef behind Wild Honey) – a tasting menu focusing on Italian produce to include dishes like salt-baked sea bass and roasted saddle of rabbit. Most interestingly, though, the selection aims to make use of some of the aromatic and botanical notes that can be found within Campari, making it the perfect foil to some of the cocktails.

All in all, the Galleria Campari offers something a bit out of the ordinary for those looking for a classic cocktail, immersed in Italian culture.

Jack Lury

Galleria Campari is on at Osteria, Barbican Centre Silk Street London EC2Y 8DS from 4^th August until 31^st December 2016, for further information or to book visit here.