cook mal at FFT Düsseldorf: Culinary Stage Art for All Senses

cook mal: When Japanese Finger Food Becomes Stage Art

In the foyer of FFT Düsseldorf, Marie Ogoshi and Soya Arakawa transform the visit to the Nippon Performance Nights into a sensory stage experience. Their artist chef collective cook mal serves specially developed delicacies on Sunday, November 22, 2026, combining culinary arts, performance, and interaction into an open theater atmosphere.

A Culinary Dramaturgy in the Foyer

At cook mal, the staging does not begin with the stage lights. It unfolds already in the scent of the dishes, in the tactile nature of ceramic vessels, and in the movement of the audience through the space. The dishes are created in dialogue with an exhibition, a performance, or a theater event. Thus, the food becomes a dramaturgical part of the evening and opens an immediate access to the art.

Ceramics, Taste, and Space

Marie Ogoshi and Soya Arakawa not only develop the dishes but also design ceramic tableware that is tailored to each production. Form, surface, and taste enter into a silent dialogue. The foyer becomes a social stage: conversations arise casually, impressions condense, and the audience's reactions are as much part of the event as the artistic work itself.

In the Context of the Nippon Performance Nights

cook mal is part of the 12th Nippon Performance Nights at FFT Düsseldorf. The festival brings together current works by Japanese artists as well as Japanese artists from Germany and Europe and focuses on the special German-Japanese context of Düsseldorf. On November 22, cook mal will accompany the Listening Session Favourite Songs of Düsseldorf starting at 5:30 PM in the foyer; following that, at 6:00 PM, the performance the storm by contact Gonzo begins.

Artistic Profiles with a Unique Signature

Marie Ogoshi studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf under Didier Vermeiren and works with site-specific, constructivist forms. Soya Arakawa studied sculpture at the Kanazawa College of Art and with Rita McBride at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, where he completed his master's degree. His works traverse sculpture, drawing, performance, and choreographic spatial arrangements. In cook mal, these perspectives combine to create an independent form of stage art.

Conclusion: An Evening that Hits the Taste of the Present

The audience can expect not an ordinary catering experience but a finely composed encounter of Japanese finger food, contemporary art, and Düsseldorf city culture. Those who want to experience theater not only visually but with all their senses will find a special access to the Nippon Performance Nights at cook mal. Admission is free.

Official Channels of cook mal:

• Instagram: no official profile found
• Facebook: no official profile found
• YouTube: no official profile found
• Website: https://www.fft-duesseldorf.de/spielplan/cook-mal

Sources:

• FFT Düsseldorf – cook mal
• FFT Düsseldorf – Nippon Performance Nights 2026
• TACOLV – cook mal Artist Cooking Collective