Originally a French term, Avant-garde’s meaning in English is vanguard or advance guard (the part of an army that goes forward ahead of the rest). First appearing with reference to art in France in the first half of the nineteenth century, the term is usually credited to the influential thinker Henri de Saint-Simon who viewed the arts and artists, alongside scientists and industrialists, as the leaders of a new era.

In 1825 he wrote:
We artists will serve you as an avant-garde. What a magnificent destiny for the arts.. that of exercising a positive power over society, a true priestly function and of marching in the van [i.e. vanguard] of all the intellectual faculties!

Although originally applied to innovative approaches to art making in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the term avant-garde is applicable to all art and thinking that pushes the boundaries of ideas and creativity, and is still used today to describe thinking that is radical or reflects originality of vision.

With this philosophy as their premise, join chefs Sergio Perea (Former chef at elBulli, Spain) and Nobuyuki Ura (Executive Chef of Ora, Sydney) for an evening inspired by new perspectives, creativity and life as art. The Avant-Garde. Inspired by art that is innovative, immerse yourself in the traditions of Spanish and Japanese cuisine and discover a curated dining experience like no other.