Terrestrial University: global (s)warming – recollections of insects and clouds

How is climate change experienced by a dragonfly? How can – in a data-driven world – old forms of insect-human relationships be recollected, to recover a diversity of knowledge, as fertile ground for new allies and terrestrial communities? And, what implications does the ecological crisis and species extinction have for the work of Natural History and Science Museums?

Taking Sybille Neumeyer’s work »souvenirs entomologiques #1: odonata / weathering data« as a starting point, this conversation will investigate how insects can invite us to reconsider a diversity of relationships between humans and non-humans. 

While multiple insect identities are medially shaped and reshaped by co-evolving modes of mapping, monitoring and collecting, their embodied environmental knowledge, their sensorium and senses are an inspiration for alternate ways of perceiving and being in dialogue with the world. 

As part of the »Terrestrial University«, Sybille Neumeyer's new work »souvenirs entomologiques #1: odonata / weathering data« (2020) will be shown on Thu, 22.07.2021, from 4 – 12 pm CEST.

To the video

The conversation will be broadcast in both English original sound and German simultaneous translation.

Sam Skinner is an artist, curator, and publisher working on intersections between community, technology, and horticulture. He completed a practice-based PhD at Manchester School of Art in 2019, which investigated the history of observatories and observation, with research translating into co-curation of »The New Observatory« exhibition at FACT, Liverpool and the artist book »Obs«, published by Broken Dimanche Press. Sam was co-chair of Working Group 1 of the COST Action on New Materialism and co-edited the project »almanac«. He co-directs Torque Editions, an experimental digital literacy and publishing project, recent books include »Artists Re: Thinking the Blockchain and The Act of Reading«. Skinner has recently launched a new art and horticulture project entitled »Fig«, see www.fig.studio for more info. 

Mirko Nikolić’s practice seeks to contribute to climate and earth justice through performance and text. His current long-term project »water is (non)life« based at Linköping University moves in a space between art and environmental humanities. It deals with entanglements between climate and social justice in the regions of intense extractivist exploitation in the semi-peripheries of Europe. Nikolić completed a PhD at the Centre for Research, Education in Arts and Media at the University of Westminster, London, in 2017, with the project titled »minoritarian ecologies: performance before a more-than-human world«. Working member of various collectives and collaborations, among which Pluriversal Radio and Mustarinda Association.