Institute for Postnatural Studies (ES)

Non-Human Design

August 1st – August 7th 2021

The Workshop

Nowadays, and more than ever, we need to understand nature as a complex and political subject that can no longer be romanticized. The way it has been represented has led us to believe that it is something separated from us, resulting in the contradictory dichotomy between Nature and Culture.

When we think of Boisbuchet we think of designing with and in agreement with the territory it belongs to. Boisbuchet's landmark for example, the Sequoia tree in the middle of the Domaine, has a postnatural history that reflects on the political and botanical dynamics between Europe and the Americas. Yet it is not an isolated case. There are many others such as the Japanese bamboo garden or the man-made lake in the terrain. Such places will become the focus of our attention during a week-long creative process.

Our perception will need to shift if we want to respond to the needs of contemporary ecologies. Design has always been about problem-solving and we believe it is time to shift its axis by making the process the solution itself. Let’s design by displacing the human from the center of our theoretical and practical approach, by forgetting about social, ergonomical or other anthropocentric production modes. How can we design for a non-human entity? What kind of necessities do we respond to when designing for or with a forest, a river, or a lake? Let's break new ground to explore desirable futures of coexistence.

Workshop Categories

Institute for Postnatural Studies Spain

The Institute of Postnatural Studies (IPS) is a center of artistic experimentation from which to explore and problematize postnature as a framework for contemporary creation. Founded in 2020, it is proposed as a platform for critical thinking; a networked place that brings together artists and researchers concerned with issues related to the global ecological crisis. In this way, and from its center located in the Usera district in Madrid, the IPS intends to become a tool for transformation by offering new approaches to artistic, production and cultural practices. The IPS operates both locally and internationally to build bridges between ecology and culture.

Both the Institute of Postnatural Studies and its members have collaborated with institutions such as Forensic Architecture, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, La Casa Encendida, Veranos de la Villa, CA2M, Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporània, University of Barcelona, IED Istituto Europeo di Design, Columbia University, Graham Foundation for the Fine Arts Grants, Tate Modern, CERN, Kvadrat, The Museum of Modern Art of Rio de Janeiro-Brazil, The National Gallery of Modern Art of Mumbai-India, Archivo y Arquitectura and the Centro Nacional de las Artes de México, Inland Campo Adentro, Teatro de la Abadía, Matadero Madrid, Círculo de Bellas Artes, Caja Negra Editora, This is Jackalope, Forma Fantasma, Domaine de Boisbuchet Candem Arts Centre, Whitechapel Gallery or the PoverArte Festival in Bologna, among others.

The workshop will be led by three of the founding members of the Institute: Matteo Guarnaccia, Yuri Tuma and Pablo Ferreira Navone.

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Housing

  • Accommodation & food are included

  • We can accommodate for special catering

  • All participants sleep in dormitories

  • To book a private room or bring additional guests, get in touch: workshops@boisbuchet.org

Education

  • Our staff are available to help you conceptualize & produce your designs

  • Tools & materials are provided by Boisbuchet

  • All workshops are taught in English

  • The number of participants is limited to 22

Activities