The Dutch landscape is 70% grassland, yet many of these grass varieties are inedible for humans. It enfolds an interesting illustration of how humans use different species to get access to the nutrients. We will discuss grass in its various forms; from its presence in the (for humans) inedible western lawns and pastures, to the grass family’s role as the world's most widely consumed staple crops, such as wheat, corn, and rice. We will also include fermentation experiments to rethink our gastronomic interaction and widen the limits of the edible.
Program hosted by: Kees Foekema
Speakers: Lelani Lewis, Sveske Oerø, Michiel Korthals, Tessa van der Geer
Evening created with: The Gramounce
Kees Foekema
As a program maker Kees thinks about the future at the intersection of nature and culture. He mainly creates and moderates programs about sustainable solutions in the areas of climate, food, agriculture, and spatial planning.
Kees studied Politics, Psychology, Law, and Economics (PPLE) at the University of Amsterdam and completed an MSc in Global Environment, Politics, and Society at the University of Edinburgh.
Lelani Lewis
Food Stylist, Cook, Culinary Activist.
Lelani Lewis creates inspiring experiences with her innovative and vibrant approach to food. Hailing from South London with Grenadian and Irish heritage, Lelani grew up amongst the diversity of cuisine; learning the ins and outs of global flavours from a young age with favourites such as bara and sweet patato pie.
Becoming obsessed with developing a mainstream platform for Caribbean food, Lelani wanted to demonstrate just how unique and diverse Caribbean cuisine is, combining her love of bringing people together around the table and paying homage to those who came before her.
The rich histories of the islands provide a deep well of inspiration for Lelani to further explore the cultural impact of food, and how the world’s ingredients unravel beautiful –and tragic– stories.
Sveske Oerø
Amalie 'Sveske' Ourø (1994) is a Danish artist who has lived, studied, and worked in the Netherlands since 2018. After graduating from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in 2022, she moved to Zwaag in North Holland. Her work, mostly performative and community-based, can best be described as art anthropology and is inspired by her curiosity about human existence and the inner workings of our society. She actively engages in dialogue with the public through play and subversion, inviting them to critically reflect on various societal urgencies in the fields of sociology, urbanism, and ecology—encouraging meaningful and sustainable change. She has exhibited both nationally and internationally at Gallery Ron Mandos (Amsterdam), the House of Representatives (The Hague), The Long Now (San Francisco), Arti et Amicitiae (Amsterdam), HYB4 Gallery (Hybernská Campus, Prague), and the Stedelijk Museum.
Michiel Korthals
Michiel Korthals is currently Professor Philosophy, University of Gastronomic Sciences, Pollenzo/Bra (Italy); em. Professor Applied Philosophy, Free University and Wageningen University. He wrote several books on food and agriculture. His latest on dealing with climate and biodiversity crisis, is in Dutch and called Good Life as Earthlings. Living with the earth can inspire humans to cooperate and share enjoyment. New and indigenous types of agroecology try to live up to these ideas. Art has a role here in disturbing human centred frames as well as creating new ones.
Tessa van der Geer
Tessa van der Geer is the Project Lead of the Low Food Lab Grass, chef and food transition consultant. From chef de parti at Foer to researching transition topics like protein transition and food waste issues. She combines a unique perspective of a finance background and a culinary education. As part of the Low food Lab she led a group to delve into the potential of grass (protein) for human use and consumption.
The Gramounce
The Gramounce is an organisation reconceptualising the world through food. They establish food as a legitimate discipline in the arts, and a valid vehicle to build meaning. They host projects around these lines, and organise educational programs around Food&Art. This Grass evening is a public part of the kick-off of their Alternative Masters food&art, where the first trimester is themed around 'The limits of the edible - Cosmologies of eating the other'.
Information
Thursday 3rd of October
18:30 - 20:00
Ticket: €8,50
Student, kunstenaar, Stadspas: €6,00
Tickets