Digestion of the Silent Earth

Most decomposers such as insects are never noticed. Today, we hardly know how the ecosystem functions with the absence of insects. Over 75% of insects have declined in abundance since the last 50 years, threatening human well-being. From being a highly priced delicacy in many countries, insects are also investigated for their potential medical uses for human health. Artist and researcher Asli Hatipoğlu dives into this subject through a performative dinner where she aims to alter perceptions on a species that are primarily seen as pests and unwelcome guests. By incorporating humor, Asli challenges social norms around eating, while informing the guests on dynamics of the soil we live on. Inspired by the film of artists Anne Duk Hee Jordan and Pauline Doutreluingne’s ‘Brakfesten-Le Grand Bouffe’, Asli prepares a delicious meal for guests to digest.

Please fill out any dietary requirements when booking. This meal will feature unconventional ingredients, including insects. Whilst diners are not under obligation to try everything, we ask everyone to bring an open mind!

Asli Hatipoğlu

Asli Hatipoğlu’s interdisciplinary social practice focuses on curating participatory dinners and installations that shed light on how culinary history and agricultural politics are changing our relationship to food. From working with micro-scale bacteria and yeasts to insects such as the domesticated silkworm, Hatipoğlu critically investigates ways of relating to our environment and ourselves. She researches production supply chains through performative acts to shed light to how humans influence other living organisms.

After working several years as a self-taught chef, Asli deepened her knowledge with fermentation during her residency at the Food Lab Jan van Eyck Academie 2020-2021, along participating in several festivals such as Food Art Film Festival JVE (NL), Taking Root- Food Art Film Festival CCA Glasgow (UK), Foodculture Days Vevey (CH), Oerol Festival Terschelling (NL), Japanese Knotweed Festival at Mediamatic (NL) and Zamus Theaterhaus Cologne (DE) . Her works were exhibited in places such as Zuiderzee Museum Enkhuizen, Radius CCA Delft, Framer Framed Amsterdam, Fanfare Amsterdam, Perdu Amsterdam, Het Nieuwe Instituut Rotterdam, Jan Van Eyck Academie Maastricht, Kunsthaus NRW Kornelimünster Germany, Hectolitre Art space Brussels and A.pass Brussels

This event is part of the live programme for life-bestowing cadaverous soooooooooooooooooooot a research exhibition collated by Rae-Yen Song 宋瑞渊.