Napoli’s Pizza of the Future: A Symbol of Cultural Coexistence
In the heart of Naples, a collective pizza has been created that represents a true melting pot of traditions and flavors. The “Informal Lunch” workshop was part of the EDI Global Forum, an international event organized by the Morra Greco Foundation in collaboration with the Campania Region. Over 100 cultural institutions from around the world, including renowned establishments such as the MoMA, Victoria & Albert, and Stedelijk, came together in Naples to represent 30 countries from all five continents.
Conceived by artist Eugenio Tibaldi, the “Informal Lunch” took place in Piazza Garibaldi, a bustling square that naturally captures the essence of the city’s cultural diversity. The event marked the final day of the second edition of the EDI Global Forum. Fifteen young women from Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Bolivia, Algeria, Pakistan, and Georgia participated in the workshop, each representing their own unique experiences and backgrounds.
These migrant women are part of the Dedalus Cooperativa Sociale’s intercultural center, Officine Gomitoli, which has been promoting dialogue and coexistence between different cultures for over forty years. They are involved in the SCIC Sistema Cittadino per l’Integrazione di Comunità project, funded by the National Fund for Migration Policies of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies, with the Municipality of Naples’ Department of Social Policies as the lead partner. The participants were invited to imagine an informal pizza menu that combined traditional pizza ingredients with flavors, spices, and recipes from their countries of origin.
By combining the act of eating with a trans-community practice, these pizzas tell the story of the meeting between the host and migrant communities, symbolizing a future of coexistence. Throughout the day, Tibaldi, along with the group of women, prepared the pizzas, involving participants from the EDI Global Forum and visitors to Piazza Garibaldi. This convivial moment playfully encouraged participants to rethink the immutability of tradition, cities, and the meaning of “identity.”
The pizzas that emerged from this process incorporated distinct flavors, such as the “Fantasia Algeria” (couscous with carrots, boiled potatoes, hot peppers, chickpeas, walnuts, almonds, grapes, and eggs) topped with tomato and mozzarella, or the “Dehati Pizza” with onion, green olives, bitter squash, bell pepper, fried chicken, tomato, and mozzarella.
“The pizza is a symbol of the city of Naples, and we wanted to imagine a pizza of the future by involving people who live in the city but come from different countries. The pizza takes on different identities and becomes more than just a food; it becomes a unifying element, nourishing both bodies and stories, and carrying a message of inclusion,” explained Eugenio Tibaldi.
“EDI Global Forum continues to be a necessary window into the times we live in, a time where the need for cultural education and, above all, understanding, connecting, and harmonizing with others is increasingly evident,” said Maurizio Morra Greco, President of the Morra Greco Foundation.
The “Informal Lunch” workshop exemplified the power of food as a vehicle for cultural exchange and the celebration of diversity. By blending different culinary traditions, Napoli’s Pizza of the Future serves as a symbol of cultural coexistence, embracing the past, present, and future in the heart of Naples.