The Assymetrical Table
amanny ahmad is an artist, chef, forager, ikebana enthusiast, writer, food activist and traveler based in new york city. born in utah to palestinian immigrants, ahmad spent her early life traveling back-and-forth between the southwest and her family’s village in the west bank, where her interest in foraging began, evolving as a way of preserving the culinary traditions of her family. since then, ahmad, who is a self-taught chef, has studied culinary traditions and wild food ways in italy, mexico, palestine, and north america, in an effort to record and help preserve indigenous culinary traditions and methods of survival. ahmad’s work earned her a month-long residency at dimes in new york city during the summer of 2017, where her menus, musical playlists, and installation details reinterpreted palestinian food and culture. proceeds from this residency were donated to the palestinian heirloom seed library (phsl) in battir, a village near bethlehem. in fall 2017 ahmad hosted the asymmetrical table, along with