These are some of the Workshops that I currently facilitate, I am open to creating new workshops to fit your visions!
BIPoC Workshop series centering:
+ Tapping into Decolonial Joy (āyurvedische Self-care Methoden, Empowerment, Abundance)
+ Decolonising Self-care geleitet von Nicole Flierman und Sunanda Mesquita (TCM x Āyurveda)
+ Political self-organization as Strategy of Resistance (E/D) geleitet von Shenja Vasanthi Kumari Danz und Sunanda Mesquita
+ BIPoC Solidarity as Strategy of Resistance facilitated by Sunanda Mesquita and Faris Cuchi Gezahegn
+ Artistic Strategies of Resistance (D/E) geleitet von Sunanda Mesquita & Rafaela Siegenthaler
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:
PAST WORKSHOPS:
Sunday 9 November 2025
14:00 – 15:30 – Decolonizing Self-Care Workshop with Nandi and Niki (BIPOC only)
Sunanda Mesquita and Niki Flierman of Ambi Space offer a workshop that incorporates sharing knowledge on Āyurvedic and TCM massage and tapping techniques which will be practiced on oneself as well as each other all in the spirit of re-membering and sharing individual and collective self-healing/care techniques for BIPoCs. @ambi_space
Die Veranstaltung richtet sich ausschließlich an BIPoCs
Sonntag, 2. November 2025
14:00 – 18:30
Veranstaltungsort: W3_ Saal
Nernstweg 32 – 34, 22765 Hamburg
Mit: Saman A. Sarabi und Sunanda Mesquita
Decolonizing towards – Kulturelle, künstlerische und somatische Praktiken zu Dekolonialität, Intersektionalität & Healing
Saturday, May 17 2025
Tapping into Decolonial Joy
In dem zwei-stündigen Workshop werden wir Möglichkeiten auf- und nachspüren, wie wir dekoloniale Freude in unsere (kreative) Arbeit, unseren Aktivismus, unsere Beziehungen und unser Zusammensein mit anderen Menschen ins Zentrum stellen können. Mit welchen Werkzeugen können wir uns (wieder) verbinden? Welche Strategien müssen (neu) erfunden werden? Tapping into Decolonial Joy bietet einen Raum, um aufzutanken, sich inspirieren zu lassen und daran erinnert zu werden, dass wir selbst in herausfordernden Momenten Trost in der Fülle von Unterstützung und Ressourcen finden können, die uns jederzeit zur Verfügung stehen. Du bist eingeladen, deine Lieblingszitate, Bücher oder Referenzen mitzubringen, die dich inspirieren und die du mit dem Thema verbindest. Während des Workshops wird es Gelegenheit zum Ausruhen und stillen Kontemplation geben, und es besteht die Möglichkeit, sich in kleineren Gruppen auszutauschen.
Die Veranstaltung wird auf Deutsch oder Englisch oder zweisprachig abgehalten.
Tapping into Decolonial Joy
In this two-hour workshop, we will explore ways in which we can bring decolonial joy into our (creative) work, our activism, our relationships and our relationships with others. What tools can we (re)connect with? What strategies need to be (re)invented? Tapping into Decolonial Joy offers a space to recharge, be inspired, and be reminded that even in challenging moments, we can find comfort in the abundance of support and resources available to us at all times. You are invited to bring your favorite quotes, books or references that inspire you and that you connect with the theme. During the workshop, there will be opportunities for rest and quiet contemplation, and the chance to share in smaller groups.
IM RAHMEN DER Mental Health Awareness Week 2025
16.06.23: 16-19.00 (CEST) Online
A Touch of Tenderness In the three-hour-long virtual session, which is aimed exclusively for Black/Indigenous/people of color folx, we intend to share strategies and tools for the creation of re-affirming self care rituals that can be used as anchors within our daily lives that help us create a softer space for ourselves and each other. If this sparks curiosity and joy, please come and bring BIPoCs along for queer centered femme_ness/them_ness, softness, tenderness, fat empowerment. There will be a small break, time for self-reflection as well as time to share our thoughts with each other in smaller groups. In the second half of the workshop, Sunanda will introduce and lead a practice of – Abhyanga – a (non-sexual) self-massage technique based on Ayurvedic self-healing knowledge.
The planned workshop language is English, but a translation into German is possible.
Please let us know when you register if you need a translation or if you have additional accessibility needs. We do our best providing a space that is welcoming for neurodivergent people.
Invitation Policy: We aim to create a safer/softer/braver space of support exclusively for Black/Brown/Indigenous/of Color Flinta, centering queer, fat femme’s and them’s experiences.
Please note that this space is not open to cis men and/or white people.
Sunanda Mesquita (they/them/hers) is a mixed Goan transdisciplinary artist and Ayurvedic Wellness Practitioner born and raised in Vienna. Their artistic practice focuses on the possibilities of a radical, utopian, queer, feminist collectivity of BIPoCs and topics of community, solidarity and belonging. They support individual and collective journeys to wellbeing by offering Ayurvedic bodywork techniques and holistic knowledge centering decolonial joy.
decolonialkilljoy.com
FupaMagic (she/they) is an educator and transdisciplinary artist. Her works are real fictions of utopias towards social justice. They implement antiracist workshops about fat-activism by creating spaces of empowerment. https://linktr.ee/fupamagic
The workshop is funded by Feministisches Referat Öh Uni Wien. A Special thanks goes to Farah Saad ❤
Rhubaba Gallery & Studios: Tapping into Decolonial Joy is an online workshop led by Sunanda Mesquita, on 14th April at 6.30-8.30 pm (CEST).
Sunanda Mesquita (she/they) is a transdisciplinary visual artist and co-founder of Anti*colonial Fantasies and WE DEY x SPACE, based in Vienna. (@we_dey) Their artistic practice focuses on the possibilities of a radical, utopian, queer, feminist collectivity of BIPoCs and topics of community, solidarity and belonging. (decolonialkilljoy.com) After the completion of their Ayurveda Wellness Practitioner training, Sunanda will start to offer ancestral bodywork techniques and holistic knowledge centring decolonial joy to support individual and collective journeys to wellbeing. (@decolonial_joy)
Tapping into Decolonial Joy is inspired by an ongoing journey from becoming a Decolonial Killjoy to moving towards Decolonial Joy. Inspired by concepts of various BIPoC artists, thinkers and practitioners we will create a personal and daily practice of tapping into Decolonial Joy.
The workshop is aimed exclusively at Black/Indigenous/people of colour. The planned workshop language is English. There will be small breaks, time for reflection as well as opportunities to share our thoughts with each other in smaller groups. Please let us know when you register if you need a translation or any access requirements to attend the workshop.
The event is free but booking is essential. To book a place please email Rhubaba Gallery and studios with a short statement (Max 100 words) about why you are interested in taking part in the session to info@rhubaba.org.
Access notes: captions via Otter.ai will be available for participants.
Das Frauen*Referat organisiert gemeinsam mit @Wir Sind Auch Wien und The Bipoc Circle den Summit “Celebration of the Self – Centering BIPOC Joy”. Die fünf Workshop thematisieren auf unterschiedliche Weise und mit unterschiedlichen Methoden Freude.
“Tapping into Decolonial Joy” ist inspiriert von meiner persönlichen Entwicklung zu Decolonial Killjoy bis hin zur Zuwendung zu dekolonialer Freude. In “Tapping into Decolonial Joy” werden wir uns mit Konzepten von einigen BIPoC-Künstlern_innen und – Denker_innen befassen und die unterschiedlichen kreativen Qualitäten von Freude und Wut sowohl in der Theorie als auch in der Praxis untersuchen. Der Workshop richtet sich ausschließlich an Schwarze/Indigenous/People of Color. Die geplanten Workshopsprachen sind Englisch und/oder Deutsch.
PAST WORKSHOPS:
Political self-organization as Strategy of Resistance – Workshopreihe an der KHM Köln
Datum | 18.06.2021, 02.07.2021, 23.07.2021 18.00 – 20.00 h CEST
Ort | Online
Bei unseren “Political self-organization as Strategy of Resistance” – BIPoC Dinner Talks möchten wir an drei Terminen, gemütliche Abende mit euch verbringen. Dabei werden wir über unsere und eure Erfahrungen, Vorhaben und Utopien rund um Community und Koalitionen zwischen BIPoC sprechen und mit ein paar Freewriting/Dreaming Exercises verbinden. Dazu greifen wir unter anderem auf unsere persönlichen Erfahrungen in unterschiedlichen Kollektiven wie Anti*colonial Fantasies, WE DEY x SPACE, CutieBIPoC Fest, Big Sibling Kollektiv, Adoptees Healing Space zurück. Gemeinsam überlegen wir, wie innerhalb BIPoC Communities selbst Räume gestaltet und Vorhaben und Ideen umgesetzt werden können, die uns im (Uni)Alltag zusammenbringen und stärken. Anschließend gibt es Zeit für persönliches Kennenlernen und Austausch untereinander.
Ziel der Veranstaltungen ist es – gerade in der Zeit der Isolation – einen Raum zu schaffen, um Vereinzelung zu durchbrechen und BIPoC Vernetzung, zukünftiges Zusammenkommen und politische Selbstorganisierung zu ermöglichen.
18.6. 18.00-20.00 Intro zur politischen Selbstorganisierung – Was verstehen wir unter politischer BIPoC Selbstorganisierung? Erzählt uns über eure Erfahrungen, Erwartungen und Träume!
2.7. 18.00-20.00 Bausteine der Selbstorganisierung – Welche Rollenbilder der Selbstorganisation gibt es? Mit welchen könnt ihr euch identifizieren?
23.7. 18.00-20.00 Planting Seeds – Wie möchten wir gemeinsame Räume gestalten und wie geht es weiter?
FACILITATORS
Shenja Vasanthi Kumari Danz und Sunanda Mesquita
Die Political self-organization as Strategy of Resistance – BIPoC Dinner Gespräche werden von Golnaz Hourmazdi, Hanieh Bozorgnia und Lilian Villalba organisiert und von Prof. Belinda Kazeem-Kamiński und der Fächergruppe Kunst- und Medienwissenschaften unterstützt.
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BIPoC Solidarity as Strategy of Resistance – Online Workshop Universität Wien
17th June 2021, 5 – 7.00 PM CET, ZOOM
The workshop “BIPoC Solidarity as Strategy of Resistance” is organised by Black students as a call for BIPoC students to get together at the Institut of Politikwissenschaften und Afrikawissenschaften of the University of Vienna. In the two hour long session we will create a space to reflect on our experiences, we will share our thoughts on solidarity and how political self-organisation can be a tool of resistance against white supremacist structures within the university. Together we will think about how our visions can be implemented to bring us closer together and strengthen us in our everyday (uni) lives and beyond. After input and writing exercises you will have additional time to get to know each other.
“BIPoC Solidarity as Strategy of Resistance” is aimed exclusively at Black people, People of Color and people who identify as indigenous/indígena and who study at the University of Vienna. The aim of the workshop is to share our lived experiences, strategies and vernacular as community builders and organisers that offers practical support for political self-organisation of BIPoC students.
Faciliators:
Sunanda Mesquita (she/they) and Faris Cuchi Gezahegn (they/them) is a performance artist, and an intersectional LGBTQIA* advocate who uses different medium such as style activism, video, and audio to bring social change and start a conversation change on the issues they face while navigating day-to-day life as a non-binary Ethiopian/African LGBTQIA* advocate/refugee in central Europe and back in their homeland Ethiopia. They have lived in Austria since 2017, having been granted asylum after their security in Ethiopia got compromised. They co-founded House of La Fab, DAN Social Group, and House of Guramayle grassroots level organizations based in – Ethiopia, Austria, UK, and the USA. houseofguramayle.org
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Political Self-Organisation as Strategy of Resistance – Workshop an der Akademie der Bildenden Künste Wien
Datum | 28.05.2021, 16.00 h – 19.00 h
Ort | WE DEY x SPACE
Im Workshop Political Self-Organisation as Strategy of Resistance stellen wir unterschiedliche Strategien der Selbstorganisierung vor und greifen dabei unter anderem auf unsere persönlichen Erfahrungen in unterschiedlichen Kollektiven wie Anti*colonial Fantasies, WE DEY x SPACE, Big Sibling Kollektiv, Adoptees Healing Space zurück.
Im zweiten Teil des Workshops möchten wir einen Raum schaffen um mehr über eure Vorhaben und Utopien rund um Community und Koalitionen zwischen BIPoCs zu erfahren und uns auszutauschen. Gemeinsam überlegen wir, wie Vorhaben umgesetzt werden können und innerhalb BIPoC Communities selbst Räume gestaltet werden können, die uns im (Uni)Alltag zusammenbringen und stärken.
Political Self-Organisation as Strategy of Resistance richtet sich ausschließlich an Schwarze Personen, People of Color und Personen die sich als indigenous/indígena identifizieren.
Ziel des Workshops ist es, einen Raum für BIPoC Vernetzung und zukünftiges Zusammenkommen zu ermöglichen.
Faciliators:
Sunanda Mesquita (sie/they) und Shenja Vasanthi Kumari Danz ist Teil des BigSibling Kollektivs und in unterschiedlichen antirassistischen und queerfeministischen Kontexten unterwegs. Sie schreibt und diskutiert zum Thema Racial Profiling, mit einem besonderen Fokus auf intersektionalen Analysen von rassistischer Polizeigewalt.
Organisiert und finanziert wird der Workshop durch den Arbeitskreis für Gleichbehandlungsfragen, Akademie geht in die Schule, dem Institut für Kunst und Kulturwissenschaften und dem Institut für bildende Kunst der Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien. Folgende Personen zeichnen sich für die Organisation verantwortlich: Petja Dimitrova, Moira Hille, Anna Janowiak, Annette Krauss, Ruth Sonderegger, Selina Shirin Stritzel.
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Artistic Strategies of Resistance – Workshop at Kunsthalle Wien
Datum | 18.02.2021, 16.00 h – 19.00 h
Ort | Online
During the workshop ”Artistic Strategies of Resistance“ we will present various artistic strategies relating to previous artistic interventions of BIPoC artists and collectives in/from Vienna. In the second part of the workshop, we will share writing techniques that can be used as an artistic expression as well as a strategy of resistance.
The aim of the workshop is to exchange ideas about how to deal with everyday racism and with racism within art spaces and institutions. We want to provide a safe(r) space for BIPoCs to (further) develop their own artistic resistance strategies and interventions.
“Artistic Strategies of Resistance” is aimed exclusively at Black people, People of Color and people who identify as indigenous/indígena. This workshop is part of Esther Abiona Ojo’s and Huda Takriti’s exhibition Weaving Truths, Untangling Fictions, which is currently on view at the Kunsthalle Wien Karlsplatz.
Faciliators:
Sunanda Mesquita & Rafaela Siegenthaler (she/her) is a cultural and social anthropologist and a social worker. Her work centers decolonial-feminist story telling, anti-racist youth work, sex education, and feminist youth work focused on the empowerment of girls.
Together, they have been facilitating anti-racist empowerment workshops in various educational institutions since 2013.
I/mages of Tomorrow, Decolonising Illustration Workshop, Goldsmith University, London
Sunanda Mesquita 