From the description of the exhibition Expedition to planet B:
Planet B, a mission to recolonise planet Earth based on a narrative of DIY expeditions to a fictional planet. Planet B offers scientists, artists and citizens a 'greenfields' to develop symbolic and material responses to the social and ecological challenges facing us. It expresses an ethos and possible aesthetics for doing things right in the Anthropocene era.
This exhibition at the Waag shows you how such a place might sound, feel, smell or taste.
Photography by Dinesh Basnet, De Waag Society
Masha Ru presents the Museum of Edible Earth, where you can explore and experience life on Earth versus the Moon and Mars through oral engagement with soil samples. From the website of the Museum Night Amsterdam:
The Museum of Edible Earth van Masha Ru daagt je juist uit om je zintuigen te gebruiken; te proeven, te voelen en te ruiken aan aarde uit verschillende windstreken. Of is het maangrond?
Photography by Dinesh Basnet, De Waag Society
Since ancient times people believe in sacredness of the earth. The importance of touching or eating earth is present in many cultures. Regardless of religion and country. The earth is embodiment of nature as mother. It sympolises female, life-giving forces fertility and continuity of lineage. In some culture eating earch can be seen as spiritual practice of reconnection with one's origin, with oneself and with the invogorating power.
Photography by Dinesh Basnet, De Waag Society
We approach soil as the resources, as well as source of life. By ingesting both soil from Earth and the Moon we, to large extent, ingest silica, and aim to connect to the mineral form of life, as well as become aligned with our environment
Photography by Dinesh Basnet, De Waag Society
From the article 'Environmental intelligence: a new way of seeing', waagai culture lab, by Rianne Riemens, 08-01-2020:
Revisiting nature
As several speakers emphasised during the conference, it is important to look at nature not only as a natural resource, but look at how nature is valuable in other ways. Trees in a forest do not (only) exist for production of wood, nor for our entertainment, but as a part of an ecosystem that enables all kinds of life.
To become perceptive of different forms of intelligences, we need to employ a new way of seeing, and to use all the senses that we have. As, for example, Masha Ru’s Museum of Edible Earth demonstrated during Museumnacht at Waag, tasting soil can create a whole new sense of engagement with the planet.
Such forms of engagement pave the way for ecological thinking, in which human activity is understood as part of a complex web of life. As opposed to the idea that humans are the central beings of the universe.
The performative installation was commissioned by Waag Society in 2019. It was produced and presented in collaboration with Alain Chaney and Dinesh Basnet. This event has been made possible within the European ARTificial Intelligence Lab, with support of the Creative Europe programme of the European Commission, Mondriaan Fund and CLICKNL.
