On a patchwork of fabrics Kapinga Joséphine Muela Kabeya and I gathered teapots, teacups, and various teas. We sit in the shade of a flowering horse chestnut tree, the white petals falling all around us. Kapinga and I first invented the Homesick Tea Gathering in 2024 to create an artistic event to talk about the empty space left behind by people we miss. It started with a cup of tea, the tea leaves were given by someone who couldn't stay in Belgium because of their visa. The tea, from another culture, conjured a vivid memory of all the times we drank tea together. Now the scent and taste draw an emptiness. We miss people in all kinds of stories, for all kinds of reasons big and small. This moment of sharing tea is about sharing tastes, cultures, stories, poetry, loss, and a deep appreciation of what plants can do to us by adding hot water. This event is as much about culture as it is about nature, bringing us together.
Homesick Tea Gathering event at Zarlardinge for Openbare Werken festival, 9 May 2025.
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| Homesick Tea Gathering, Zarlardinge, Openbare Werken festival, Eline De Clercq & Kapinga Joséphine Muela Kabeya |
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