Elaine Silas

About

My practice focuses on navigating cultural spaces, engaging in community practice and weaving narratives through design.

At the RCA, I have explored the significance of food in defining relationships, underscoring the tradition and social function of communal dining. The dining table is an everyday care infrastructure, from the cherished recipes of our past, we create a basis for connection through the act of eating together. Living in London, I have often worried about my taking up space here but the dining table is a place where I forget that. While my physical presence (ability to stay) here stands on shaky ground, I can sit at the table with two feet firmly on the ground.

The food we ingest is a powerful medium in the constitution of personhood. The shared act of eating binds us together across time and space, reinforcing the cultural and social bonds that define us. The traditions we hold represent the communities that have raised us, and sharing these traditions creates new communities.

In exploring the role of food in community building, I highlight the resilience and creativity of migrant communities in London. Through initiatives such as community gardens, supper clubs, and food events, these communities assert their identity and cultivate a sense of belonging despite oppressive immigration policies. This project aims to facilitate and strengthen these networks, showcasing the vital role they play in fostering ownership, belonging, and resilience.