Setting forth from our own model and understanding of how to work together, we wanted to reflect on the question the 8th Canakkale Biennial was shaped around, “How do we work together?”, in conjunction with the invited initiatives. We thought that it would be consistent with our structure and priorities as Garp Sessions to come together with the other initiatives and seek new relationalities and bonds. Our program for the biennial prioritized getting to know each other as the invited initiatives through our common interests and motivations in flux, and was constructed as online gatherings and a dinner prepared with chef and researcher Irem Aksu in Babakale, at the table that enables similar gatherings, conversations, and new connections every summer. Alongside, we presented a talk with Aksu at CTSO around routines and rituals, following the biennial’s opening. This publication is a documentation of the online and physical meetings we held with Are Projects, AVTO, Ka Atolye, and Monitor.
Garp Sessions Cookbook brings together 20 recipes by Garp Sessions participants from 2019-2021. Producing and digesting food as well as thoughts and materials together is a key aspect of the programme that takes place in a very specific locality. The first morning of the 10 day programme kicks off with a food market in Babakale. This is the main opportunity for food shopping as the village does not have any big shops, supermarkets, bakeries or butchers. This negotiation process acts as an introduction to the village and an ice-breaker. Then, the participants cook collectively using the local produce provided on this very first day of the programme. Cheese, vegetables, easy to store grains, and surely fish and seafood as Babakale is a fishing village, are main ingredients. All the recipes are inspired by and produced with the local produce and context in mind.
You can purchase the Garp Sessions Cookbook here! (Image: Onagore.)
