Florence Leung

The ultimate act of care is to feed and to be fed. It is instinctual, like a mother caring for her child. Food is primal and fundamental to our survival. Beyond nourishing our bodies, it has shaped cultures and brought people together for generations. Despite our differences, food offers a universal language. To learn about another person through their food is to know them more deeply.

Situated within postcolonial Aotearoa, Confluence Kitchen explores what the decolonisation of space might look like in the present, towards a more equitable future. It challenges existing social and spatial hierarchies by proposing a community-led cultural kitchen and dining space where diverse foodways overlap. Activated through collective participation, the space invites communities to cook, share and learn from one another. At this confluence of cultures, food becomes the key ingredient to create conversation and connection, revealing our common humanity.