(Literally, “Eating the Policy”)
Performative Food Preparation

As a community, JAF aims to build new relationships with the land through artistic practices in many forms. JAF broadens the idea of collectivity by involving a wide range of actors—including those in the art world—and by creating a multisensory space that embraces multiple perspectives, including human and more-than-human. Together, JAF asks: How can an art fair serve as a site for developing commoning strategies that return agency to the land?

JAF proposed a performative food-preparation session that brought together artists, activists, policy-makers, collectors, gallerists, media representatives, and entrepreneurs. Acting as “policy makers,” participants designed a free-lunch program of nutritious meals for students, inspired by national initiatives in Indonesia. While preparing the menu, they imaginatively explored the program’s aims, impacts, and implementation strategies.

This session served as a brainstorming forum whose outcomes could be applied to the 3,500 students of Jatiwangi—demonstrating how the art world could engage directly with local needs and contexts.