The project TALK WITH THE WALLS is a reflection, design exercise and action on the space of Globe Aroma following the values of intersectionality, solidarity, participation, creativity, inclusion, and care.

It was launched by a design workshop during which women discussed, projected and designed what a safer space is and can be. It resulted in a modular and movable wall/furniture that multiplied and got constructed by the women and the Decoratelier craftsmen. Here the emphasis was to go beyond the thought process of defining a safe space but to encourage, establish ownership by the action of building.

The project TALK WITH THE WALLS is divided in 3 steps:

  1. The first step, launched by a design workshop, saw the women discussing, projecting and designing what a safe space is and can be.
  2. The second step (Moving Wall) was dedicated to the design and the construction of a modular and movable wall/furniture. The emphasis was to go beyond the thought process of defining a safe space but to encourage, establish ownership by the action of building.
  3. The third and final step of TALK WITH THE WALLS is dedicated to creating The Mural inspired by strong and powerful figures of female/non-binary iconography, symbols and ornaments, personal stories of ancestors and female role models. The group designed and created a composition of female friendship and feminist values that was collectively painted during the Summer of Globe festival of 2021 in the lobby of Globe Aroma, a place where women have experienced in the past cat-calling and harassment.

Espace Fxmme participants: Seyma Unlu, Fatma Alomrani, Dounia Salamé, Anna Housiada, Carol de Buck, An Vandermeulen, Elli Vassalou, Sahra Abdikarin, Ifrah Yusuf, Helle Arfaoui, Heleen Verheyden, Marit Galle, Tasneem Nagi,  Shilemeza Prins, Joan Somers Donnelly,  Mirra Markhaëva, Amel Hamza, Mimouna Amri, Soumaya Mahroug, Bouchra Lamsyeh, Salome Grdzelischvili, Kamal M Kawsara, Rabiatou Diallo, Kaatje Vermeiren, Mona Cornelis
Safer spaces design workshop facilitation and architectural design: Carol de Buck, Elli Vassalou
Construction and workshop facilitation: Jan Rymenants, Menno Vandevelde (decoratelier)
Builders: Shilemeza Prins, Anna Housiada, Amel Hamza, Helle Arfaoui, Elli Vassalou
Mural workshop facilitation: Mirra Markhaëva
Mural illustration: Mirra Markhaëva
Mural painters: Sahra Abdikarin, Fatma Alomrani, Mimouna Amri, Helle Arfaoui, Mirra Markhaëva, Shilemeza Prins, An Vandermeulen, Elli Vassalou, Ifrah Yusuf, Kaatje Vermeiren, Mona Cornelis, Rabiatou Diallo, Bouchra Lamsyeh, Soumaya Mahroug, Joan Somers Donnelly
Zine design: Mirra Markhaëva
Photography: Elli Vassalou, Deborah Ephrem
Text contributors: Mimouna Amri, Anna Housiada, Mirra Markhaëva, Shilemeza Prins, Elli Vassalou, Ifrah Yusuf, Kaatje Vermeiren
Text editors: Mona Cornelis, Kaatje Vermeiren

Espace Fxmme