Life in Balance with Nature

Sustainability - Film - Art-Science Collaborations
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My work is dedicated to strengthening our connection to nature and ourselves.

My projects evolve around society’s relationship with nature, social innovation and peace building. My work seeks to create spaces that inspire inner and outer TRANSFORMATION through CONNECTION and DOING.

This is why I seek to establish trans-disciplinary partnerships between those working around awe and wonderment (art/science) and those in the field of manifesting change (NGO’s, private sector, public sector).

I have a track-record of international projects leading the Design-and-Do Thank StoryTex (formerly Paititi Lab). I also co-founded The Library for a Happy Future, a project that seeks to connect “One Health” with our relationship to Water. My artistic work reflects about what I learn on the way, interweaving manual and intellectual work. This site is about my art and playgrounds for transformation.

2024

CreativityforaRegenerative

Creativity for a Regenerative Tomorrow

in collaboration with Mercator Foundation Switzerland

The coming sustainability transformation is essentially a cultural challenge. An action research project explores the role that art and culture can play in this. In nine case studies, artists and cultural practitioners provide insights into their work.– 2022-24

Dr. Björn Müller und Dr. Sonja Schenkel in collaboration with Stiftung Mercator Schweiz

Read Working Paper

 

 

2024

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Omphalos of Many

Art Ichol – India

“Omphalos” means navel in Greek. The navel is considered to be a symbol of birth and life; The anchor, our center point. But what does that mean exactly?

“Omphalos of Many” would like to suggest that our common anchor may not be set in a specific point but lies in a way of being. It is created through connection and dialogue. The focus of a centre emerges from deep listening and from freeing ourselves from what we have learned. The textile piece is an offering to earth. It was purposely laid on the ground so that it will eventually be overgrown by plants and taken over by animals. Textile Sculpture  – Art Ichol, India – 2024

 

2023

FarmtoTable

Farm to Table

on behalf of Zurich University of the Arts (ZHDK)

„Three of Life“ was conceived as part of an exploration on how Universities can offer food to thousands of students in a sustainable and healthy way. The question of how a good education is based on good food drew a close connection between nourishing and nurturing. Education seeds the future. And this very future takes its energy from actual seeds and the care given to them.

2023

WyssAcademy_Peza

A Shared Land (Tierra Compartida)

in collaboration with The Wyss Academy for Nature and Conservation Amazonia

Bufferzones are places bordering protected areas. In Peru, like in many other places, there is not clear legislation about what type of conduct and economic activities may happen there. Yet, they are essential to buffer between human-dominated areas and the wild. Communities living around Tambopata Reserve has thus found a very particular approach to “plan” their buffer zones. Collaboration with the Wyss Academy for Nature and Acca-Peru
Watch it here

2020-2022

BrilliantFailure_3

Brilliant Failures in International Partnerships

in collaboration with University of Lausanne

Precious stones form under the right conditions. They require heat and great pressure. But in order to shine; They also need to be recognized and cared for. Failures present a similar treasure. From an early stage in our lives, we learn, that success is great. And Failure..hmm..well. Failure is not so good. While in fact. Isn’t this how we evolved in the first place?

2022

ForceField_Bilbão

Force Field

in collaboration with the Wellbeing Project

Contemplative rooting at the Wellbeing Summit in Bilbão, June 2022

in development, 2023/24

The Iceberg in the Room

The Iceberg in the Room

The project “The Iceberg in the Room” is multimedia projection. It tells the story of Swiss Camp, a research station located at 69 degrees north on the Greenland ice sheet.
The crochet structure serves as a canvas or as a screen, which is made together with students and re-opened at the end of project. Collaboration with Simon Steffen – STORY WEAVING / INSTALLATION