Sweet Saba
The Artful Delights of Candy
Picture : Carla Tramullas
ABOUT THE ARTIST
If you have a sweet tooth, Maayan Zilberman is about to become your ultimate idol. With a background in Fine Arts and experience in the fashion industry, she felt restricted in expressing her creative vision. This led her to establish Sweet Saba, a one-of-a-kind studio dedicated to crafting extraordinary and awe-inspiring handmade confections. From edible lipsticks and jewelry to stacks of candy cash and precious gem-inspired treats, there is no limit to what Maayan can transform into an enchanting visual delight that appears too adorable to devour. Interestingly, one of her intentions is to encourage people to detach from sentimental attachments to material objects. So, why not indulge your sweet tooth, break your diet momentarily, and savor the interview while relishing something delightful ?
In October 2015, Maayan Zilberman introduced Sweet Saba, a luxury sugar collection characterized by its sculptural designs, based in New York City. Initially, Zilberman's line consisted of sugar replicas of personal items, capturing fleeting moments to be shared among friends. It was her way of transforming memories into tangible, ephemeral objects that carried both weight and sentiment. As her creative endeavor gained momentum, it expanded into larger-scale projects, including sugar-based installations and limited editions commissioned by renowned clients such as Versace, Chanel, Dior, Esteé Lauder, Riccardo Tisci x Nike, Neiman Marcus, NBA, Jimmy Choo, La Prairie, Swarovski, Nars, Be@rBrick, Puma, Perrier, and Canada Goose, among others. Zilberman's artwork has also been showcased in esteemed museums like The Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Art & Design in New York City.
Zilberman's innovative work and Sweet Saba have garnered attention and recognition from notable publications and media outlets such as The New York Times, VOGUE, Architectural Digest, The Oprah Magazine, W, Bazaar, Forbes, WSJ Magazine, and ELLE Magazine, among others.
Sweet Saba has established retail partnerships with esteemed stores like Bergdorf Goodman in New York, Neiman Marcus nationwide, Le Bon Marché in Paris, and On Pedder in Hong Kong. Starting from Spring 2023, Sweet Saba's exclusive offerings can be found at Chifa LA.
VERSACE X MET GALA
In honor of the unveiling of the exhibition "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & the Catholic Imagination," Sweet Saba crafted magnificent confections in collaboration with Versace for the Met Gala. The confectionary creations included oversized candy rosaries and papal rings, delicately flavored with champagne and adorned with edible gold. The iconic Medusa portraits and opulent chain links, characteristic of Versace, replaced traditional religious motifs. The gala attendees were privileged to receive a wearable masterpiece that perfectly complemented their stunning red carpet ensembles.
ROCK STAR MEDIA & AUDEMARS PIGUET
In this extraordinary showcase, Sweet Saba joined forces with Rock Star Media and Audemars Puiguet to unveil a captivating assortment of delectable creations, intended to capture the immersive essence of the gaming realm. By highlighting the tender emotional dimensions inherent in this medium, the collection aimed to provide guests with a reflection of the virtual world, inviting them to partake in a truly distinctive experience. Consuming these edible renditions of virtual objects offered a remarkable opportunity to bridge the gap between the digital expression of gaming and the tangible sensations of taste, evoking memories and stimulating the imagination in a singular fusion of reality and virtuality.
WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
Candy "portraits" developed in collaboration with The Whitney Museum of American Art
inspired by the museum's portraiture exhibit "Human Interest". Facial features from artworks served as reference for hand painted lollipops.
ART PRODUCTION FUND X HOUSE OF PERONI
Drawing inspiration from the Orto Botanico di Padova, the oldest academic botanical garden in Padua established in 1545, this artwork delves into its collection of medicinal and toxic plants, showcasing them in their living form or meticulously hand-carved from sugar. With a nod to the garden's original purpose, rumored to be a breeding ground for the Medici family's poisonous concoctions against their adversaries, artist Maayan Zilberman invited guests to partake in an intriguing exchange. A Roman Chamomile blossom, embodying the essence of communal healing and growth, could be traded for a nectar-infused candy Oleander sprig, laced with edible gold. The Oleander, a perilous plant symbolizing enlightenment and knowledge, provided an evocative representation of the intertwining nature of danger and awakening.
