Connoisseur Ice Cream Empire Collection Pop-Up Gallery

Overview

Ever wanted to nom on Louis XIV? Feast on Emperor Jing Zong? Connoisseur ice cream have taken some royal cues with their brand new dessert line: the Connoisseur 'Empire Collection' — and they're pairing it with an exhibition at Blank Space.

An epic thematic stretch (but a tasty-sounding one we can raise a spoon to), the collection is inspired by historical figures or 'tastemakers' who supposedly "had a connection to the very origins of ice cream," according to the Connoisseur team — Emperor Nero, King Louis XIV, Emperor Jing Zong and King Cyrus of Persia. Though the historic heavyweights' connection to ice cream is somewhat vague (and annoyingly they're all dudes), we're not ones to say nay to academic dessert.

Royally-inspired ice cream needs some pretty packaging, so Connoisseur have enlisted the help of Melbourne street artist Steve Cross. "It’s a tale of four men, connected by ice cream and I really wanted to bring them to life through the packaging and design to create something truly unique,” says Cross. "I was inspired both by the ingredients used and the historic figures with their rich back stories. It’s a great acknowledgment to history, bringing these legends alive today — a beautiful demonstration of the blending of two eras."

The Connoisseur team are pushing the collection further, with a one-week exhibition at Blank Space in Surry Hills: The Empire Collection Pop-Up Gallery (September 17 - 22). Commissioned artwork by Cross will be on display alongside free tastings of the new collection. That's right, free ice cream. Free. Ice. Cream. There'll also be in-gallery competitions running which could land you even more freebies.

Meet the historic figures who inspired the new Empire Collection here.