Studio ThinkingHand: Running Wild
WORDS, ART & PHOTOGRAPHY: STUDIO THINKINGHAND
How do we as Humans be both the cause of the anthropocene and part of the future? How do we learn to de-center ourselves to become an ally to other species, entangling ourselves in intra-acting relations towards generative futures? Rather than being the object of our protest, how do we listen and give space to the intelligence and agency of Nature?
Creating and sharing work amidst a global pandemic has encouraged us to welcome uncertainty. Letting go of control is hard. Exhibiting artworks without knowing what is going to happen is both terrifying and nerve-racking. But in the moments that we actively practice de-centering ourselves and allow space for Nature and other species to live, grow and intra-act—when we learn to observe, listen and relate to stories from the many non-humans we cohabit with—worlds are created beyond our possible imaginations or abilities.
In our art practice, we co-create with other species. Rather than representing Nature in art through a human gaze, we allow Nature to speak for itself. Through our work and research, we have been humbled by the power of tidal ranges. We have learned to explore the world through the diversity and intelligence of mushrooms. We have exercised re-meeting ecosystems anew, as they are dynamic and never the same as the moment before.
Constantly relating can be difficult and exhausting—it is a practice that requires un-learning the dominant prioritization of productivity, efficiency and effectiveness. However, when we open ourselves to the unknown and the quantum levels of life’s time and processes, we are always in awe of the interconnected vibrancy of life.
We are embracing the idea of being in the world without controlling the environment around us but instead, being in constant entanglement with it.
