To truly understand living,
complex systems – whether in nature, society, or art – we need a balance of analytical thinking and sensory, intuitive, multi-sensory
experience. Texts and language alone are not enough.
What if we could sense theory? If we could literally get in
touch with it? Through our skin, our hands and feet, our noses and ears? What if we could acquire implicit knowledge, allowing
us to grasp living systems without reading or thinking too much about them?
Do we value declarative knowledge too
high? Are we too brainy and at the same time headless in the face of constant information overload?
What do we
have to unlearn? What do we have to let go of, to make wise, prosperous decisions? Intellect isn’t enough. Knowledge isn’t
enough. Ambition isn’t enough. How do we enable ourselves to take compassionate, cooperative and caring actions that nurture
both us and our world and our environments?
What learned knowledge, what deeply anchored beliefs, and cognitive
convictions can (should) we shredder to experience ourselves as thriving living systems? And to flourish together with other
living systems? Because, and this is not just theory: we can only live and survive embedded in other living systems.
The
PEEK research project SENSING LIVING SYSTEMS is working with international artists and systems scientists on the development
of multisensory scenographies. Principles of living systems are translated into olfactory, auditory and tactile artworks/artefacts
and are used experimentally. Created with artistic means the scenographies are supposed to provide sensory impressions helping
for a better understanding and resonating with living systems.
Artists / Researchers (core team): Jeanette Müller,
Paul Divjak, Alexandra Graupner, Anna-Maria Irgang
FWF PEEK-Project DOI: 10.55776/AR 776Special thanks to Taras Komisaruk and Michael Ellinger
Mon–Fri: 11:00–18:00
https://ail.angewandte.at/explore/sensing-living-systems-topic
