Political Dumplings - Talks & Collective Cooking with Bordered Lives

In response to the conservative turn visible in many parts of the world, In Between Zones, as a loose curatorial collective, explores new ways of imagining how geopolitical tensions shape everyday life. We seek to reveal the often-hidden interconnectedness of borders that appear separate, yet are deeply linked through shared histories, movements, and cultural practices.

Dumplings, we believe, embody this connectedness: from Chinese jiaozi to Georgian khinkali, their journey from Central and East Asia to the rest of the world—through trade routes, colonial expansion, migration, and cultural exchange—reminds us that food-making is never neutral. It is a form of labour, care, and cultural transmission that sustains relationships across borders.

Here, we apply the concept of “political kitchen” and invite socially engaged academics and artists who defy the logics of nationalism and state borders to engage in transnational, interdisciplinary conversation alongside collective cooking.

• Begin with a talk, followed by presentations from…