Russian sausage culture

October 22, 2008 9:57 AM

Six Russian artists have created reproductions of world-famous paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Van Gogh and Picasso entirely out of sausage, earning a Guiness record certificate . This exhibition of perfectly edible art pieces took place a few weeks ago in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don to celebrate the centennary of a local meat-processing factory. Close-up photos of the pieces at English Russia.

Sausage, or kolbasa (not to be confused with the polish "kielbasa") is a staple of Russian cuisine and culture. Every Russian grocery store will have dozens of varieties for discerning customers to choose from. Over the years, it has made its way into Russian vocabulary and humor (go to the Sherlock Holmes section). A peek at Russia's processed meat industry.

For a different kind of sausage art, check out Banksy's current installation in New York City (discussed previously on MeFi).

posted by wretched_rhapsody (24 comments total)

If you want to enjoy art, then you shouldn't watch... no, shit, wait...
posted by Meatbomb at 10:07 AM on October 22, 2008

Classic art in the best possible taste

More like the wurst possible taste.
posted by Wet Spot at 10:07 AM on October 22, 2008 [3 favorites]

Those are some great sausage links.
posted by Kabanos at 10:09 AM on October 22, 2008 [1 favorite]

wurst possible taste, sausage links

ow.

Genoa salami is yummy. *nudge nudge wink wink

Adding to the meat theme. Meat/flesh dolls (Poupees viandes). Not for the squeamish.
posted by nickyskye at 10:16 AM on October 22, 2008

Crazy Russians, what will they think of next?
posted by Chan at 10:21 AM on October 22, 2008

They should have made the van Gogh out of nuts.
posted by scarello at 10:25 AM on October 22, 2008

MOLODETS! XOROSHO!!
posted by spicynuts at 10:26 AM on October 22, 2008

This is an answer to a question no one asked.
posted by The Whelk at 10:42 AM on October 22, 2008

No matter where it's made, you don't want to watch.
posted by tommasz at 10:42 AM on October 22, 2008

I am German and I approve this use of Wurst.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 10:54 AM on October 22, 2008

This is an answer to a question no one asked.

Ask any Russian and everyone will tell you that the best fish in the world is sausage.
posted by daniel_charms at 10:54 AM on October 22, 2008

I don't know much about art, but I know what I like [BURRRRP].
posted by not_on_display at 11:00 AM on October 22, 2008

They should have made the van Gogh out of nuts ears.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:02 AM on October 22, 2008

Even closer up.
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:07 AM on October 22, 2008

Faint of Butt - what on earth did you think sausages were made from?
posted by UbuRoivas at 11:09 AM on October 22, 2008

"Watson," says Holmes, "you have once again pigged out on salami!" "How did you know? Is it because I'm a doctor?" "No, it's because you're being salamied."

I lol'd.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:24 AM on October 22, 2008

not to be confused with the polish "kielbasa"

Umm... what? That's like saying "English soup (not to be confused with German Suppe)"
posted by Meatbomb at 11:37 AM on October 22, 2008

This shattered the previous Guinness Record for most European paintings reproduced entirely in the medium of sausage (zero).
posted by justkevin at 1:32 PM on October 22, 2008

Umm... what? That's like saying "English soup (not to be confused with German Suppe)"

I think a kielbasa is a particular style of sausage, isn't it? So it's more like saying "The English word "sausage" (not to be confused with a German mettwurst)"
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:17 PM on October 22, 2008

I think a kielbasa is a particular style of sausage, isn't it?

No, meatbomb is right, kielbasa is just the Polish word for sausage. The Poles can't help it if you think of a particular kind.
posted by languagehat at 2:24 PM on October 22, 2008

A lonely young lass, Annie Watts
Stole sausages out of their pots
A length of frankfurter,
She'd found, never hurt her
(Nor salamis, kielbasa, nor brats)

'Twas a habit our lassie long carried
Her routine day to day hardly varied:
She'd indulge in a spot o'
The old sopressata
Right up 'til the night she was married

Her lad found his way gently astride her
To give what had long been denied her
She gave able assistance
But a certain resistance
Was notably lacking inside her.

So he figured he wasn't her first,
And, once passions had all been dispersed,
He asked "How'd I compare
To your previous fare?
Was I good?" "Well... you're far from the wurst!"
posted by Wolfdog at 2:25 PM on October 22, 2008 [1 favorite]

In Soviet Russia, reproductions of world-famous paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Van Gogh, and Picasso make sausage out of. . .


Whoah. I'm glad I'm not on drugs right now.




But so much for sleep tonight.
posted by flotson at 8:56 PM on October 22, 2008

kielbasa is just the Polish word for sausage. The Poles can't help it if you think of a particular kind.

This word, in slight variations, is the word for sausage in pretty much all the Slavic languages. I think that from the US perspective, the problem is that "Polish Sausage" means a particular type that you grill, especially on the barbecue.

In Poland, Russia, Ukraine, etc., when you go into the butcher shop or supermarket you will be confronted with dozens of varietes of kielbasa / колбаса / кобасица / ковбаса / klobasa / klobása, and some of it will look like the "Polish Kielbasa" you are used to at the US supermarket.*

*but it will all be infinitely more tasty and excellent.
posted by Meatbomb at 5:01 AM on October 23, 2008 [1 favorite]

thanks to this discussion, i spent an entire day trying to remember the latvian for sausage, and finally had to look it up - desa, or more commonly, the diminutive: desina (with a cedilla under the n, which i can't work out how to do here). good to see that such a common & tasty foodstuff doesn't use a borrowed russian word.
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:46 PM on October 23, 2008