Being interspecies: Attempts to belong with sheep - Gestures to become with fungi - Collaborative research with more-than-humans
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School of Arts, Design and Architecture |
Master's thesis
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Date
2024-11-12
Department
Major/Subject
Visual Cultures, Curating and Contemporary Art
Mcode
Degree programme
Master's Programme in Art and Media
Language
en
Pages
98
Series
Abstract
Lau’s Master's thesis is researching interspecies relationships with more-than-humans in Finland. This research is looking at the correspondences between humans and more-than-humans, focusing on two companions: sheep and fungi. They have been trying to restore dialogues thinking with gestures from craft, intuitive collaborative practices and mushroom foraging as a means of communication. The practical collaborative component of the thesis emphasises the importance of shared craft activities in knowledge building and broadening perspectives. They collaborated with and got deeply inspired by Jahnavee Baruah from the Design department at Aalto University (reference to her thesis in the bibliography), and different communities in Finland (farmers, spinners, makers). Lau has researched more collective, ecosophical and queer ways of being and creating, challenging the production systems in place. Attempting to connect with more-than-humans and the Land, they question domestication, our feelings of belonging and becoming together. They were researching ways in which sourcing materials (Finnish wool and fungi) influences the making process and strengthens our interspecies relationships. This thesis attempts to open discussion on interspecies communication and more-than-human agency, combining written talks, essays and stories, installations, workshops, and textiles. It includes polyvocal and multi-species responses appearing in the text. The stories are mainly sensed through the practical multisensorial part of this research.Description
Supervisor
Davis, LucyKeywords
interspecies, communication, sheep, fungi, collaboration, craft, textile, wool, more-than-humans