What are we fighting for? is a co-creative project by a cohort of artists and makers from NerdLab that starts from a place of curiosity, aiming to explore our bodily reactions to strong emotions. Inspired by The People Speak technique’s for connection, we want to connect over “unpleasant?” emotions and their physical nature.

Join us for Talkaoke at Au Jus, Jean Volder, 24, 1060 Brussels
11 Sept 2025, Walkin from 18h30 until 22h

Please RSVP here 

We like to explore the limits of theoretical emotions as much as we like to expand creativity to its most physical expression. Art is meant to be experienced at its most visceral facet. We are but mere executors of performatic behaviours. We have been told that “unpleasent?” emotions need to be as fast as possible out of our minds, but what if we got the chance to deep dive into them?

“What Are We Fighting For?” is a participatory project that focuses on encounters and dialogue in public space, through participatory formats and physical interaction. With a series of open workshops and collective creative moments, we want to bring together Ghent residents – and in particular people who do not (yet) know each other – around sensitive and relevant questions about identity, emotion, conflict, cooperation and collective imagination.

The project focuses on developing new forms and frames that bring people into interaction with each other in a playful, physical and performative way. Inspired by The People Speak‘s projects, but we give it our own interpretation through themes such as anger, identity, humor, group dynamics, physicality and safety.

Find out more about What are we fighting for? here.

On Thursday 11th September Talkaoke is popping up at NerdLab, where we will explore the topics of anger, safety, identity, emotion, conflict, cooperation and everything in between in a free-wheeling conversation.