Covid-19 panÂdeÂmic, cliÂmaÂte chanÂge, enviÂronÂmenÂtal polÂluÂtiÂon and speÂciÂes extincÂtion, all of which have been acceÂleÂraÂted by gloÂbaÂlizÂaÂtiÂon and an exploÂitaÂtiÂve sysÂtem of proÂducÂtion and conÂsumpÂtiÂon and have long sinÂce becoÂme a palÂpÂaÂble reality—it has becoÂme ineÂviÂtaÂble to disÂcuss the relaÂtiÂonsÂhip of humans and natuÂre. Humans have long felt safe in their supÂpoÂsed supeÂrioÂriÂty, putÂting themÂselÂves aboÂve natuÂre and its proÂcesÂses in a gesÂtuÂre of power and domestiÂcaÂtiÂon. With serious conÂseÂquenÂces. A shift away from this human-cenÂteÂred perÂspecÂtiÂve has long been calÂled for, as well as a turn towards holistic views, becauÂse we are a part of natuÂre and its sysÂtem. If we desÂtroy it, it will desÂtroy us, too.
In its 2021 proÂgram, D21 Artspace will disÂcuss the relaÂtiÂonsÂhip of human and natuÂre from numeÂrous perÂspecÂtiÂves in exhiÂbiÂtiÂons, symÂpoÂsia, film screeÂnings, and interÂacÂtiÂve forÂmats. This incluÂdes quesÂtiÂons about human perÂspecÂtiÂves on natuÂre as well as quesÂtiÂons about susÂtainabÂle proÂducÂtion and usage—also in the art sysÂtem itsÂelf. What soluÂtiÂons to our ecoÂloÂgiÂcal proÂblems are imaginable?