On this day, we celebrate, together with our network and anyone who wants to, the new organizations that have become or are aspiring to become Zoöps. The upcoming Zoöps will present themselves, their Speakers for the Living, and their plans. We also have a rich program full of special tours, workshops, and lectures that invite you to look at all things living in a different way.
We are organizing this festive gathering at Mediamatic (one of our upcoming Zoöps!).
With contributions from Jos Willemsen (Teaming With Life), artist Patricia de Ruijter, Speakers for the Living Maike van Stiphout, Helen Weeres, and Theun Karelse, Werner de Valk (Creative Coding Utrecht), Karin Geschiere (Catharel), and many others.
Program
- 1:30 PM Walk-in at Mediamatic
- 2:00 PM Welcome by the Zoönomic Institute and an inspiring keynote by Jos Willemsen (Teaming With Life)
- 2:45 PM Workshops
- 4:00 PM Celebrating new Zoöps & Council Members
- 5:00 PM Drinks
Tickets
Buy a ticket here and register upon arrival for one of the four workshops you would like to attend in the afternoon.
Language: Dutch* | Location: Mediamatic | Tickets: €8
*Some workshops could be (partially) facilitated in English if you wish to join as an English speaker. Availability will be communicated on location.
About the workshops
During the Zoönomic Gathering, we are organizing four different workshops that invite you to look at all living beings in a different way. On the day itself, you can choose from one of the four sessions taking place simultaneously.
Workshop 1: Being Zoöp
Experience your surroundings from the perspective of a cormorant or a wildflower. Feel one with the greenery and be hypnotized by the ripples of the water. During the Zoönomic Gathering, this workshop, led by artist, curator, and photographer Patricia de Ruijter, will immerse you in the other-than-human life in, on, and around Mediamatic. Through simple physical exercises and meditation, participants will learn to perceive the environment as if seeing it for the first time. From this fresh perspective, you will photograph from a other-than-human perspective. You will take Zoöp photos and practice a method for intuitive research.
Workshop 2: Living Datawalk
Led by Werner de Valk (zoöoperations manager at CCU) and Theun Karelse (Speaker for the Living at CCU), we will take an exploratory walk. The Living Datawalk is a method that allows you to map observations, photos, notes, or data along your route while walking. Upon your return, you'll have an immediate overview of your data, with each entry appearing where you were when you posted it. The goal is to collect data and develop ecological insights or interventions. During this Datawalk, we will attempt to map zoonomic relationships around Mediamatic. The walk works with Telegram, which can be easily installed on your phone.
Workshop 3: Constellations
We are social animals. Our chances of survival increase when we can sense what's happening, even before we can explain it. We are at our best when our senses and reason work together. In our current society, however, we primarily train and use our reason.
In a constellation, we use our senses to explore what happens in a 'system': a network of people, animals, plants, and objects in a specific social and often physical environment. Constellations provide insight into how things relate to the system. From there, we can explore what is useful for a healthier system. In this workshop, Karin Geschiere will teach us the basic principles and let us experience what it's like to be a representative in a constellation.
Workshop 4: Speaker with the Speakers
How do you listen to the voices of all life around you? Can you speak for a snail, a tree, or a stream—and how do you know what they have to say? In this workshop, we explore what it means to speak for and with the living landscape.
During "Speaking with Speakers," Helen Weeres (Association Living with the Land) and Maike van Stiphout (Nieuwe Instituut) will discuss their roles as Speakers within their Zoöp. They will share their experiences, insights, and doubts: how do you listen to non-human voices, and how do you translate those observations into words and actions?
An open Q&A session for anyone curious about the practice of speaking—and what it takes to represent more-than-human life.
