BREAKFASTCLUB is an intimate meeting with an artistic proposal and with each other. During a meeting at an unusual time with a snack and a drink as a binding factor, other ways of sharing, looking and experiencing become possible. Gouvernement’s concept combines artists’ presentation moments with a moderated conversation on the themes evoked by the works on show.
In the context of Beyond The Black Box, we are presenting two editions with different themes that reflect on this year’s program. BREAKFASTCLUB #11 starts from the question of how we can tell stories about places where we are not physically present. How can dance, text, or a dish convey something about a place?
Mbunga Kongi presents an excerpt from her Mino, in which she physically connects the past and the present. In turn, Sîpan Sezgin Tekin works with material from the preliminary research for The Cud, which is also featured at the festival. The collective Common Ground uses Palestinian cuisine and the ritual of shared meals as a starting point for gathering and reflection. Following these interventions, the three artists engage in a conversation with moderator Shaquille Joy, inspired by the performances and the questions raised.
LOCATION
Grote Zaal, De Brakke Grond
DATE
Saturday 1 February 2025 from 14.00 until 16.00
LANGUAGE
English
TICKETS
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BREAKFASTCLUB IS Vincent Focquet, Marie Umuhoza, Lauren Borremans en Nele Keukelier A PROJECT OF Gouvernement SUPPORT BY KAAP, VIERNULVIER, STUK, Campo, De Studio, Het Theaterfestival, Rekto:Verso, Universiteit Gent en De Vlaamse Gemeenschap
Sîpan Sezgin Tekin
Sipan Sezgin Tekin (1996) is an actor, performer, theater maker, and storyteller. As an artist and nomad, Tekin’s search for meaning takes shape through a rich blend of performance, music, language, sound, light, and documentary, rooted in the oral tradition of storytelling. His works offer dynamic reflections on political and existential realities, using mythological and real stories to create experimental, narrative performances that blur the boundaries between fiction and reality. Tekin focuses on the political dynamics of language as a power dynamic, exploring multilingualism and the embodiment of language in performance in terms of accessibility and narrative diversity. His work is an ongoing investigation into the embodied communicative and sensory potential of language use to create experiential performative situations.
Mbunga Kongi
Mbunga Kongi, born in Kinshasa, the vibrant heart of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is a self-taught performance artist based in Brussels. Her work combines visual and corporeal languages, merging history and performance to explore the role of Black women in African and Western societies.
Deeply inspired by historical figures of resistance, particularly the Mino—fierce women warriors who defied colonization—her art seeks to dismantle enduring prejudices and reclaim these often-overlooked narratives. Through collaborations with artists from diverse backgrounds, she aims to transcend cultural boundaries, fostering a new form of unity and resistance.
Her approach integrates a profound exploration of historical archives, movement, and scenography, resulting in compelling works that celebrate authenticity and drive social transformation.
Common Ground
Common Ground is a collaborative artistic project started by Anna Celda and Saja Amro. Using the dining table and the kitchen as research laboratories, CG aims to create a caring and comforting space to delve into topics like female labor, inherited knowledge, and culinary histories. Inspired by indigenous food cultures and traditions, the duo responds to the individualistic and isolating eating habits of modern life by immersing audiences in sensory experiences that spark reflection and connection while offering foodscapes of indulgence and abundance. Their recent work focuses on envisioning liberation in Palestine and globally by designing collective cooking experiences inspired by ancestral sensory rituals, creating mental and physical spaces for imagination and connection.
Shaquille Joy
Shaquille Shaniqua Joy is a moderator and cultural curator focusing on storytelling. Her work explores the embodied experiences of herself and others through conversations, programs and exhibitions. Shaquille collaborates with cultural institutions and museums, such as Fashion for Good, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and Melkweg, as well as platforms and brands including Mubi, Nike, Highsnobiety and many more. As a moderator she always strives to have conversations rather than interviews. Her excitement for people and their fascinations is the base of her practice, which inspires her to create various formats including the Living Room Session.
Living Room Session is a recurring live program inviting you to be present while getting inspired. During the evening different artists reflect on a subject through various mediums curated and presented by Shaquille Shaniqua Joy.
