“Art as Ecological Practice”: Artists visit the CRC 1182

A collective of artists supported by the Arthur Boskamp Foundation, Hohenlockstedt, recently visited the CRC 1182 for two days in preparation for a newly launched art project. The group of around 15 guests was hosted by CRC 1182 Principal Investigator Ute Hentschel Humeida at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, amongst others, to learn about the concept of metaorganism research in Kiel, have guided tours around several locations at GEOMAR and Kiel University and generally find inspiration in the host-microbe research field.

The visit was initiated by Dr Ronald Kolb, currently artistic director at Boskamp Foundation, who orchestrates the new project called “Art as Ecological Practice – a Sustainable Approach”. It is supposed to serve as a platform for transdisciplinary exchange between artists, scientists, farmers, cooks, and the local population. Thematically, the artists involved deal with ecological issues such as sustainable agriculture, nutrition, resource-saving practices, and cultural techniques of food craftsmanship. They rely on collaborative structures with local actors to test long-term initiatives such as a seed exchange program, a permaculture network, and a sustainable cooking (book) club. The overarching aim of the project is to actively contribute to environmental education and sustainable development in the region.

During the visit to GEOMAR the group joined a guided tour of the Technik & Logistik Zentrum (TLZ) with Peter Linke, who presented underwater instrumentation, gliders and other equipment. Ute Hentschel Humeida provided them with a short lecture on the CRC 1182 topic “Ecology and Evolution of Metaorganisms”, focussing on the marine perspective and discussed the concept of host-microbe-interactions with the visitors. They later listened to a talk on “Ecology and Utilisation of Marine Algae” by Florian Weinberger followed by a discussion and finally went on a tour through the GEOMAR library with Heidi Düpow. At Kiel University, the group visited the Institute for Plant Breeding and Botanical Garden, organized by Nazgol Emrani and Susanne Petersen.

A total of around 30 artists is invited by Boskamp Foundation to contribute to this recently launched project. They will seek further meetings and networking with scientists and other societal players in the near future. Based on these encounters they will further develop their project and individual artwork. In doing so, the artists will revolve around questions like: How can contemporary artistic practices and formats contribute to a sustainable way of life? How can cultural practices help to translate evidence-based knowledge into common knowledge? “Art as Ecological Practice” as an exhibitory event will culminate in a series of public assemblies, where artistic research, scientific insights, and local community perspectives converge. These gatherings include workshops, performances, cooking events, lectures and informal encounters, and aim to produce evidence-based, transversal knowledge between art, science, and everyday life.

The CRC1182 is happy to support the “Art as Ecological Practice” project and allow insights into its’ research field to the artists involved. “Science and art can inspire each other profoundly, and we as scientists oftentimes rely on artistic interpretation not only to come to new insights and conclusions ourselves but also to get our messages across to non-scientists. In this sense, we are curious and very much looking forward to seeing this project evolve and serve its’ important purpose at the intersection of science, art and society”, says Ute Hentschel Humeida.

More information:
www.m1-hohenlockstedt.de/en/kuratieren/m1-kuratieren-202526