Unoriented
Imagine a place in a coastal region where the waves of the sea crash against the rocks, creating a distinctive melody. Near the beach, colorful shrubs and trees grow. Their beauty and fragrance are known worldwide, as they come from all corners of the earth. The many houses, large and small, stand around the coast. They are made of solid stone, and their windows resemble those of the Palace of Versailles. In the past, some time ago, the residents chased the animals out of the nearby forest. They were afraid of the unknown, of what lives in this forest.
How did this change come about?
Nowadays, all adolescents are sent into this forest for one week with companions to learn about the diversity of the animal and plant world and to live in harmony with nature. However, their way of life appears very foreign to outsiders; many outsiders consider them uncivilized, although they are very hospitable and open to all. This poses the danger that the residents could be exploited by outsiders.
Yaren and Vlada, Future Manufactory, Vonderau Museum Fulda 2023Reading the text of Yaren and Vlada, we were intrigued by this beautiful scenery and story but sadly touched that a life in harmony with nature seems to be compellingly associated with backwardness and might cause hostile reactions from outsiders.
Why is harmony with nature considered to be a weakness and naivety whereas conflict, misunderstanding, non-communication and exploitation of nature is considered to be a sign of strength? What kind of life in harmony with nature can be imagined that does not give the impression of being backwards?
Does someone who is colorful, joyful, musical and vegetarian risk to be regarded as naive or even exotic? How could a colorful civilisation look like?
Ther fear of the forest is pointed out by Francis Halle who describes the astonishing point that the fear is not caused by untamed wilderness, predators, poisonous insects or plants, but by the hostilities between cultures, the Romans and the “barbarians”. The fear of nature is a cultural construction.
Francis Halle, A Life drawing trees, Interview with Emmanuele Coccia
