Theoretical Context
The theoretical corner points
of this practice-led research project
Figure 2
The Three Ecosystems, and the emergence of a new ecosystem, which encompasses the interconnectedness between humans and the rest of the natural world.
by Luciana Hermida.
Interconnectedness through Three Ecosystems
In order to explore nature and communicate the role we play in this exchange, I have chosen to link the study of the The Three Ecologies by Felix Guattari and explore the concept of ecosystem and its boundaries.
To address the existence of invisible boundaries which exist within our society, I find relevant to interconnect my findings and explorations of our biological world to The Three Ecologies by
Felix Guattari (1989). The ecologies stated by Guattari
[see Figure 1] are interdependent and their common ground is the concept of Ecosophy. He addresses how without transformations of our mentalities (mental ecology) and collective habits (social ecology), there will be no measures taken concerning the material environment (environmental ecology).
Transposing this onto my way of thinking about the subject of human connection with nature, the three different ecosystems chosen to be explored across different sites share physical as well as cultural and social aspects. These are the human ecosystem, the water and the land. The water and land intrinsically share physical boundaries, such as on an island, or a forest at the edge of the sea, or a city by the river. The human ecosystem interacts within each of these naturally; as habitants of this world we interact with the water and the land in different ways and for different purposes. How we interact, what we add and take away from it has an impact on the greater exchange between ecosystems.
From the interaction of these three ecosystems, I will aim to explore the emergence of a ‘new ecosystem’ which basically contemplates how a symbiotic relationship with nature is possible when a mutual and beneficial exchange takes place.
Interconnectedness and Geopoetics in the context of Hilbre Island
Geopoetics as defined by Kenneth White, the founder of Geopoetics, its a practice that relates to the ‘poetics of the earth’, an approach that explores the relationship between language, place, and the human experience, through creative and poetic means.
Geopoetics is inherently associative in process, open-ended, not enclosed in rigidly defined concepts or significance: inclusive and unfolding in its meaning and potential.
Deep mapping acts as a ‘bridge’ to help us connect what we see with what we cannot see involving mapping out our experience of places. This can take many forms: mapping through the use of photography, appreciation or/and creation of artworks, poetry or a combination of all these - as seen in this exhibition. Deep maps are not specific outcomes of deep mapping but ways of making visual the connections we find and create in our minds and spaces. Deep maps explore the connections between people and places, avoiding being literal. These type of maps aim to favour exploration and boundary-free thinking.
The idea of mapping involves journeying/travelling; the act of journeying through Hilbre can take many forms but the real value of it is when it becomes a shared journey and therefore, a shared cartography. In the context of this exhibition, deep mapping stands as a tool to also enable a shared cartography of Hilbre, helping to delineate and define what lies within the mapping of Hilbre as a SSHI (Site of Special Human Interconectedness) as described in the ‘Re-Imagining Hilbre’ exhibition (read exhibition blog post here). Contributions to a shared cartography, enhance the sense of interconnectedness between ourselves and with nature.
Figure 1
The Three Ecologies
by Felix Guattari
