LISELLI
FOREST LIBRARY & SOUNDWORK INSTALLATION (2024)
Fallen branches, tree stumps, carpets, own books from ongoing research.
This artwork was first exhibited while I was an Art & Public Space student at KHiO in 2024 (Tree Witches: Collective Rituals joint exhibition with artist Marie Cole & artist-architect Mimmi Koponen, Galleri Seilduken 2) and was then revisited as part of my graduation artwork in 2025. It is one of the artworks that merges my focus on anthropocentrism and human/non-human knowledge, leading me to question the anthropocentric legacies within generational knowledge in my ulterior artworks.
In parallel, it has anchored the storytelling part of my practice with the participatory processes of my practice: knowledge sharing, in the form of stories, is a form of passing on knowledge. The concept of the library as a repository for knowledge, and a space for knowledge sharing, is also questioned here: whose knowledge and which perspectives are chosen to be shared as opposed to others? What are the colonial and anthropocentric legacies within the library as an archive for knowledge?
The work was originally exhibited with private books that were part of my ongoing research in 2024, and this personal research library expands as my work with generational knowledge deepens. The non-human elements are a crucial part of this installation: with this I question the ‘nature-culture’ dualism inherited from a European Enlightenment period, and wish to draw attention to the knowledge(s) that are embedded in them (knowledge(s) that are often pushed to the sideline).
The installation is meant to be a space for sitting, reading, listening, exchanging, to emphasise the knowledge-sharing aspect it represents.
In parallel, it has anchored the storytelling part of my practice with the participatory processes of my practice: knowledge sharing, in the form of stories, is a form of passing on knowledge. The concept of the library as a repository for knowledge, and a space for knowledge sharing, is also questioned here: whose knowledge and which perspectives are chosen to be shared as opposed to others? What are the colonial and anthropocentric legacies within the library as an archive for knowledge?
The work was originally exhibited with private books that were part of my ongoing research in 2024, and this personal research library expands as my work with generational knowledge deepens. The non-human elements are a crucial part of this installation: with this I question the ‘nature-culture’ dualism inherited from a European Enlightenment period, and wish to draw attention to the knowledge(s) that are embedded in them (knowledge(s) that are often pushed to the sideline).
The installation is meant to be a space for sitting, reading, listening, exchanging, to emphasise the knowledge-sharing aspect it represents.
Technical info: the fallen branches require to be hung from above. The installation covers about 4-5m2. In the previous exhibitions, the books from ongoing research exhibited as part of the installation were my own private books. I am aware that this can be a limitation and was wondering if a collaboration with Deichman Bjørvika’s literature collection could be envisioned here: could these be the Bjørvika library’s books as opposed to my own private books, where the research books could be presented in such a way that they inform the viewer where their Bjørvika library counterparts could be found? The list of reference books also accompanies the work, as there are also many in digital format (which the library potentially has physical copies of, and I have already borrowed some of them). These are books related to the post-humanist theories, eco-feminism, eco-criticism and black studies, but also many related to the authors and poets who are continuously influencing my work. The artwork was also originally presented with the soundwork played from a hidden speaker on a loop. While this is preferred, I am also flexible to using headphones as another way to access the soundfile. Both options would require a player, bluetooth or otherwise, to play the sound from.