Sotto la Luna Piena

A central part of ROOTED RITUALS was the celebration of life cycles, coinciding with the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, a tradition dedicated to reunion and reflection on the phases of the moon. Inspired by the concept “the moon changes, as life does”, the event took place in an urban green oasis, weaving together a food design workshop, contemporary performance, and a convivial aperitivo under the open sky. Beneath the waxing moon, the garden became a poetic space where gestures, flavors, and natural rhythms engaged in harmonious dialogue.

A large, luminous woven moon installation accompanied the evening as a symbolic guide. The work emerged from three intensive craft workshops focused on rope weaving and a collective afternoon of assembly. A labor of hands, time, and attentive collaboration, it was brought to life by the generous participation of many. The woven moon became a sign of community and connection, suspended like a thread that binds stories and presences together.

During the evening, a food design workshop drew inspiration from ancient poetry celebrating the full moon as a metaphor for cycles, nostalgia, and deep bonds. Using fresh plant-based ingredients, shared gestures, and collective imagination, participants explored themes of the moon and the cycle of life. In small groups, they created narrative dishes that told stories of anticipation, connection, and renewal, transforming food into a poetic form of expression.

As the full moon rose, a performance unfolded as an offering to the moon — an act of respect and love from us, human beings. Drops from a sudden rain added a poetic touch, creating a suspended moment where body and nature met under silver light. The audience engaged in silent rhythms, gestures, and attentive listening, immersing themselves in practices inspired by lunar cycles, turning the evening into a shared space of intimacy and contemplation.

To conclude the evening, participants shared vegetarian dishes celebrating the festival alongside traditional mooncakes. In a luminous, poetic atmosphere, the convivial moment became a space for calm, exchange, and connection. Between flavors, stories, and smiles, the aperitivo created a simple yet profound sense of community, a small collective ritual beneath the night sky.

About ROOTED RITUALS

ROOTED RITUALS is a site-specific public art initiative that weaves together participatory performances and food design workshops, fostering meaningful and embodied connections between people and food. The project emerged as one of the winners of the European call Feed Your Future – Engaging Youth for Creative Climate Action, promoted by Rede DLBC Lisboa and coordinated by the Municipality of Milan within the Creative Europe framework. It was realized through the collaboration of JOYY! Food Design, Laboratorio Silenzio, Social Design Lab, and APICAIA – Association for Italy-Asia Cultural and Artistic Exchange. Activities took place in selected neighborhoods of Milan, areas where access to food knowledge and cultural participation is often limited, yet ripe for new narratives and shared spaces.