Dreamy Riceland is a creative food design workshop held on the opening night of Mi in Mi Food Design Exhibition, curated by JOYY! with the support of APICAIA, at Ravioli Nordest in Milan. JOYY! invited participants to embark on a multisensory journey that reimagined rice as more than food — as a medium for storytelling, memory, and imagination. The evening began with a project introduction and a tasting experience about rice, revealing the cultural and sensory depth of this simple yet powerful grain. Guests were then guided to co-create their own dreamlike “rice islands” using rice and other ingredients, shaping unique edible landscapes that merged personal memories with creative expression.

In the workshop, participants explored the emotional and symbolic meanings of rice through hands-on creation. From shaping humble rice balls to layering textures and tastes, the act of crafting each edible “island” became a meditative process — a return to the present moment, a conversation with the self. As in life, we may often feel like solitary islands; yet through food, we discovered shared emotions and formed a collective archipelago of resonance, acceptance, and empathy. These rice creations became more than just dishes — they were poetic maps of feeling, where food became language and the table transformed into a landscape of memory. Dreamy Riceland revealed how rice, in its quiet simplicity, can connect taste, culture, and the inner world of each participant.

Co-work with Joyce Tang
Photo by Mattia Azzoni
2025

Opening

Workshop