The Speculative Circle: 100 Ways of Spilling the Beans

Led by Viviana Checchia, this participatory studio invites participants to explore how everyday acts of gathering, cooking, and conversation can become spaces for collective thinking, exchange, and connection – and for expressing ideas, sharing experiences, and challenging established social structures.

Inspired by Dr. Checchia’s memories of women gathering to cook and exchange stories in southern Italy, the seminar considers how domestic spaces and shared activities have enabled women to articulate perspectives and exchange ideas that might otherwise remain unspoken. The session will include a visit to the Mina Zayed fruit and vegetable market to source seasonal ingredients, followed by a collective cooking session centered on a recipe developed by local chef and artist Moza Al Matrooshi.