Towards Permacultural Institutions: Exercises in Collective Thinking

In recent years, there has been a proliferation of art exhibitions on plants and other more-than-human beings accompanied by a growing interest in environmental thinking, traditional ecological knowledge, and various forms of collective work in art institutions. At the same time, there has been a growing disillusionment with the art world itself. The western art system too perfectly seems to mimic the neoliberal economy that we all live in. Intensifying climate change makes it clear that the cultural sector along with all other parts of society cannot continue in the same way as before. The ecological catastrophe that we are facing triggers a strong impulse for change. In response, the summer seminar “Towards Permacultural Institutions.: Exercises in Collective Thinking” reflected on how plants and permaculture can inform curatorial and institutional work beyond the superficial application of sustainability guidelines. The publication brings together essays, reflections, exercises, prompts, recipes, reading lists and other materials to move towards relational and reciprocal practices in the art field and beyond.