Walker&Bromwich are artists that have been on both of our radars for some time… it is actually how both myself and A-J met, through The Encampment of Eternal Hope exhibited at wasps’s The Briggait, Glasgow, during COP26. What an experience that was! Two weeks full of discussions, workshops and “possible dialogues” along with indigenous ceremonies; all culminating into one big ceilidh! And that was the magic about The Encampment of Eternal Hope; it made us all feel just that. Hope. 

Bringing together the hope and the collective cries for the future, Walker&Bromwich created a space that plinthed the one thing that was on everyone’s mind… planet earth. Their creative strategy was to invite a symphony of voices from all around the world. Particularly in amplifying the voices of Minga Indígena and other Indigenous leaders and the activists and artists from across Abya Yala (the Americas) who offered their knowledge to the people of Scotland forming a shared sense of kinship. This ‘Possible Dialogue’ within ‘The Encampment of Eternal Hope’, was the trail blazing setting, where there had been a discernible lack of representation of indigenous voices within the previous years of COP. COP26 would be and was certainly different. With discussions on climate change, extractive capitalism and environmental justice. We spent time exploring the crossover of indigenous connections to land and the learning and unlearning needed to be open to this experience.

Now we are here – 4 years later – in the Talbot Rice Gallery, once again met face-to-face with Walker&Bromwich’s collection of soft sculptures, such as ‘Serpent of Capitalism’ and ‘Slate or State’. ‘Searching for a Change of Consciousness’ featured these iconic inflatables as well as films; one of those was a video documentary of the ‘Encampment of Eternal Hope’ which included its participation with COP26.

An integral element to Walk&Bromwich’s work is breathing conversation into spaces where communities can come together to draw positive change. The exhibition raises questions about how nature can be represented in human affairs and joins calls for animals, rivers, mountains, and trees to become agents of change and we wanted to bring some of that to this session.

The most important form of resistance is collaboration: where “cross-pollination” (rehearsing hospitalities) of knowledge forms a resilience and dismantles hierarchy. Acknowledging ways that embodying human and non-human acts of knowledge can create hope and empowerment, that gives voice to the struggles and oppression. 

We took time to absorb the work and become present in the space. Walking around the giant serpent, watching the documented performances, exploring along the balcony, and looking down on the towering sculptures below. Huddled together and sitting on wooden stumps, we began to share our thoughts. 

Thinking of connections with our more-than-human folk: thinking of land relationships, extractive capitalism, exploitation, land ownership, and access – we began drawing from links between languages of wisdom and knowledge, symbolism of snakes and capitalism, landlords as well as connections to Mother Nature and more-than-human kindreds. 

The impact of extractive and exploitative practices have had on this land has been immeasurably damaging… or perhaps it is measurable. As it has been declared by climate scientists who have been warning the world of where we are headed if we don’t act now!

One of the projects ‘Council of all Beings’ was a source of inspiration for prompting, exploring ‘embodying a being’. Writing from the perspective of that being, taking form of that being, what would it say? When bringing it to this space, what shape does its voice take. Taking on such a task as a representative of the Mountains of this world, the Forests of this world and the Oceans of this world is weighted but in this moment we come out of ourselves to think about each other, connecting with the land and respecting reciprocity. In this small sentiment, as we write, we focus on inhabiting that being. 

_________________

From Alasdair Watson 

I, mother mountain, they live in me. 

The past, the ancestors, the bird, fish, and tree. 

But I’m forgetting those old names, theyve all been replaced. 

For titles and fiefs of he who defaced

and scarred and stripped my slate for his state

Severed connections, gave a price to my fate. 

With his fathers I danced and my wisdom I shared

Noo he stole the whole mountain, and they made him a laird. 

_____________

From Maria Soroniati

Olive Tree.

Marked,

My Skin:

Axed

Fired

Oiled.

Loving hands,

-Build me up.

Mother Root,

-Sprout my kin.

In the end,

We will survive,

Once more.

______________________________

We would like to thank everyone who came along to the session and shared their writing and time.

We would also like to thank Talbot Rice Gallery for allowing us to use the space and being so thoughtful and accommodating whilst we were in the space. A big special thank you to Sarah and Josh for all of your help to make this session a magical one!

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