2022 Future of Global Governance Series

Proceedings for Workshop: Nature and natural objects as actors in everyday lives

by the Center for Global Agenda (CGA) at Unbuilt Labs

25 August, 2022

Organizers

Joachim Nijs, 自然をつくる国日本 (Japan: Nation Building Nature), Founder

Marvin Cheung, Center for Global Agenda (CGA) at Unbuilt Labs, Co-Director

Marguerite Van Cook, Center for Global Agenda (CGA) at Unbuilt Labs, Co-Director

Presentation by Joachim Nijs

Guest Speakers and Invited Artists

13 August: Julien Isoré (Alan Tod), Forest Artist

20 August: Peggy Cyphers, Professor of Painting at Pratt Institute

Summary

We would like to thank our co-organizer Joachim Nijs and guest speakers Julien Isoré (Alan Tod) as well as Peggy Cyphers. We would also like to thank SDG16 Hub, a portal hosted by the UNDP Oslo Governance Centre, for hosting our online discussions. Further, we would like to thank our workshop participants for joining us on the weekends to discuss and examine our relationship with nature and natural objects.

The two-part workshop began with an introduction to how different conceptions of nature impact our socio-political realities and built environment. We then invited participants to use practice-based research, and in particular photo-elicitation as a tool to record and investigate nature and natural objects as actors in our everyday lives. Finally, we held a studio discussion centered around ideas inspired by the photographs participants took and an open-ended discussion session.

Below are the highlights of the workshop:

1. When we think about incorporating nature into everyday lives, a holistic approach is required. This means going beyond just "more green". We need to introduce thoughtful cultural practices in order for the initiatives relating to nature to have a lasting impact. Simultaneously, with the rise of eco-distress and eco-anxiety, great care needs to be taken when communicating and introducing nature-related cultural practices to avoid extreme behaviours.

2. In areas that have historically been prone to earthquakes, we see greater disaster preparedness, and to different degrees an earthquake culture where earthquake preparedness and readiness is integrated into local culture. This includes risk-aware building practices, art, legends, rites and rituals, narratives of survivors, poems, as well as disaster education and training. Given the drastic changes in climate we expect to see in the near future, we need to engage the culture industry to develop adaptive practices. These practices require active effort, building, and engagement.

3. We currently attribute value to man-made objects, craft, and human intervention, with very little appreciation for wildlife. This is unhelpful towards the cause of preserving nature. In certain cultures, natural forests are considered monuments and vital cultural property. We need to re-examine ways to advocate for the cultural value of nature to create the desire to co-exist with nature, both at a grass-roots level such as social media advocacy, and at a policy level.

4. The toxicity of art materials and waste generated in the process of creating cultural products whether that is at art schools or in industries demands further attention. We need to research and develop materials as well as practices that are more sustainable.

Participants

Amparo Elisa Rojas Ramirez, SIU Ventures Miami part of SIU at Educative Group San Ignacio de Loyola - Peru, Project Leader

Arthur Wandzel, Karbuu, Cofounder / CTO

Cathleen Zeippen, Individual

Dr. Swati Bute, Jagran Lakecity University, Bhopal-India, Associate Professor

James Romberger, School of Visual Arts, Artist and Professor

Lee Cherry, NC State University College of Design

Louise O'Boyle, Ulster University, Associate Dean (Academic Quality & Student Experience)

Nabiha Miskini, National Institute of Statistics, Chief Service

Rashida Atthar, NGOs and Institutes, Educationist

Sarah Johnson, Kingston School of Art, PhD Candidate

We are also pleased to receive an expert statement from Peter Kennard, Professor of Political Arts, Royal College of Art, available in our Pressroom, “Banksy to Peter Kennard, ‘I take my hat off to you sir’“