Launch with performance by Yasmeen Al-Qaisi and an introduction to the project by the curatorial team

For the launch of Dissident Paths, Yasmeen Al-Qaisi invites us to walk inside of our gut through making toum or mujdei (a garlic paste with oil and salt) together. As the first trace of Dissident Paths will be the smell of garlic, we are going to focus our intention towards invoking allium protection; transforming garlic into an anti-violence tool in a time when right wing politics are entering our stomachs.

Garlic, a taboo for the non-east and the non-eastern art world, becomes a weapon. A natural antibiotic, but also a sacred and secret ingredient that leaves traces of good life. As always, Iazmin will invoke the knowledge and power of our grandmothers, while looking for the polyrhythm of our mortars in unison. Smashing lots of it together, garlic will turn into a form of collective protection of a non-neutral space where we will stink collectively. A form of consensus towards chaos cooking is proposed; by smashing garlic with our hands and our teeth, we invite each other into a smashing of social norms.

Yasmeen (frequently misspelt) Al-Qaisi is a poet who writes for voice and paper, articulates and performs language with sound, food or care practices towards uncontainable forms of literature. When writing with sound, Jasmin shape-shifts in inexistent institutional forms, invents jobs, engages in human and more than human relations and broadcasts temporarily or mobile on free and public radios.

The curatorial team’s introduction will be available on site as a script in German.

Notes on accessibility:

- The location is approximately 5 minutes from Alexanderplatz (U2, U5, U8, S3, S5, S7, S9), 10 minutes from Jannowitzbrücke (S3, S5, S7, S9, U8), or 3 minutes from the bus stop Memhardstraße (Bus 200). These stations listed have step-free access.
- On-site support personnel available for people with disabilities.
- The site is wheelchair accessible.
- Accessible bathrooms are available on-site.