At this year’s Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa, art and food came together in thought-provoking ways, inviting visitors to think deeply about everyday things like salt, meals, and labour. Instead of just enjoying food as something delicious, artists used it to explore political and social issues that affect communities across India and beyond.
One key idea was how something as simple as food can carry powerful stories about work, identity, history, and inequality. Salt, for example, was presented not just as a cooking ingredient but as a symbol connected to culture, colonial history, and economics. Through installations and shared meals, the festival encouraged people to consider who produces our food, who profits from it, and who bears the burden of labour behind it.
Food also became a tool for memory and connection. Shared meals sparked conversations about family traditions, the seasons, and the land. Visitors were invited to reflect on changes in climate, traditional farming practices, and loss of biodiversity, showing how food is closely tied to environment and culture.
Labour was another central theme. Some artworks highlighted the lives of workers whose efforts are often unseen or unappreciated. By recreating environments that reference physical, emotional, and cultural work, the festival reminded attendees that food is not just nourishment—it is the product of human effort, community, and sometimes struggle.
The festival blurred the lines between art and food, letting taste and smell tell political stories. Whether through shared meals, exhibits about salt, or discussions involving chefs and farmers, the experience made people pause and consider the politics hidden on their plates.
Ultimately, this edition of the Serendipity Arts Festival showed that art isn’t just for galleries—it can unlock conversations about society, culture, work, and our most basic daily experiences.
