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
