Studio ThinkingHand On Running Wild
Words, Art & Photography: Studio ThinkingHand
How do we as Humans be both the cause of the anthropocene and part of the future? How do we learn to de-center ourselves to become an ally to other species, entangling ourselves in intra-acting relations towards generative futures? Rather than being the object of our protest, how do we listen and give space to the intelligence and agency of Nature?
Creating and sharing work amidst a global pandemic has encouraged us to welcome uncertainty. Letting go of control is hard. Exhibiting artworks without knowing what is going to happen is both terrifying and nerve-racking. But in the moments that we actively practice de-centering ourselves and allow space for Nature and other species to live, grow and intra-act—when we learn to observe, listen and relate to stories from the many non-humans we cohabit with—worlds are created beyond our possible imaginations or abilities.
In our art practice, we co-create with other species. Rather than representing Nature in art through a human gaze, we allow Nature to speak for itself. Through our work and research, we have been humbled by the power of tidal ranges. We have learned to explore the world through the diversity and intelligence of mushrooms. We have exercised re-meeting ecosystems anew, as they are dynamic and never the same as the moment before.
Constantly relating can be difficult and exhausting—it is a practice that requires un-learning the dominant prioritization of productivity, efficiency and effectiveness. However, when we open ourselves to the unknown and the quantum levels of life’s time and processes, we are always in awe of the interconnected vibrancy of life.
We are embracing the idea of being in the world without controlling the environment around us but instead, being in constant entanglement with it.
As you pass away—in-between the certainties
where death and eternity finally unmasks and reveals
themselves as the same fruiting body.
Hard edges erode.
What otherwise might remain apart, are dissolved,
softened and united.
You become the archive, the stage, the monument,
The ever-drifting body of water
Where all waters have flowed into the vast reservoir of life.
The great receptacle of the landscape
of repeated meetings.
Studio ThinkingHand is a Copenhagen-based artistic duo comprised of Australian-born Rhoda Ting and Danish native Mikkel Dahlin Bojesen. Their work, which they consider a co-creation with species from fungi to bacteria and lichens, encourages exploration beyond traditional Humanism and breaks down border zones between classifications. They approach issues of sustainability and climate change through a less dystopic, fear-based lens with the aim of a more affirmative look to the future. Studio ThinkingHand frequently collaborates across communities and sectors such as science, engineering and agriculture, establishing the arts as an instigator for cross-pollination and knowledge exchange beyond silos.
