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
https://ail.angewandte.at/explore/sensing-living-systems-topic
