On one of the late spring evenings of May 2023, a sense of anticipation filled the air as we gathered around a longish table in a spacious room at Progr, an elegant auditorium of an artistic center in Bern. The room was abuzz with people, their curious eyes fixed on our activities. We were part of the HKB Research Apero 2023 (HKB Forschungsapéro 2023), a public event organized to review the ongoing research activities of our Research Institute at the Bern University of the Arts.
As we settled into our seats, a delectable aroma wafted through the air, drawing everyone’s attention to the food being served. Placed in front of us was a carefully crafted tuna fish sandwich on wheat toast with lettuce and butter, absent of mayo, accompanied by a choice of buttermilk or a warm cup of soup— a simple yet refined lunch, prepared with meticulous attention to detail.
Whether consumed physically or intellectually, the meal we shared was an enactment of Alison Knowles’ canonical Fluxus event, Identical Lunch, which the artist has enjoyed performing countless times since 1967. This event holds a significant place in the histories of the postwar avantgarde, and we were honored to pay homage to it. (For further insights into the origins of the lunch and our unique interpretation of it, I encourage you to delve deeper into the details provided here and here, as well as to explore our non-identical variant of this experience here.)
Our presence at this event was neither solely about sharing our research findings nor about the culinary enjoyment as not all of us were able to enjoy the meal due to dietary restrictions. Rather, it was an opportunity to foster social connections and engage in meaningful conversations. We believed that the act of sharing a meal together could create a unique and inclusive space for discussion and exploration.
In that spirit, we had proposed the idea of inviting the Bern public and our colleagues from the University of the Arts Bern to join us around the table and partake in this canonical lunch experience. We wanted to break the traditional boundaries of academia and extend our research beyond the confines of the laboratory or lecture hall.
As the project members mingled with the public, a vibrant exchange of ideas, thoughts, and perspectives took place. The lunch acted as a catalyst, sparking conversations that transcended the boundaries of disciplines and backgrounds. Artistic expression merged seamlessly with scientific inquiry, resulting in a harmonious blend of creativity and knowledge.
People eagerly shared their impressions of the meal, commenting on the delicate flavours and the interplay of history and contemporaneity. But the discussions did not stop at culinary appreciation/depreciation; they soon delved into the deeper layers of the concept of this work, Fluxus and the world surrounding it that we were exploring through this event and our research.
Surrounded by the rich ambiance of Progr, we found ourselves immersed in a multisensorial experience. The clinking of cutlery and the lively hum of conversation created an intellectual exchange, where diverse voices tuned in to form a collective understanding.
The lunch became a metaphorical feast for thought, nourishing our minds. It was a reminder that research should not be an isolated endeavor, but a collective pursuit that thrives on shared knowledge and collaboration.
As the evening drew to a close, and the last crumbs of the tuna fish sandwich disappeared from the plates, a sense of satisfaction settled over the room. And as the aroma of that remarkable tuna fish sandwich lingered in our memories, we embarked on the next phase of our research journey, fuelled by the connections and inspiration that had emerged around that Identical Lunch table.
Photographs by Aga Wielocha and Sebastian Dobrusskin.
Activating Fluxus 