The Creation of Resonance
Resonance was born out of a collective love for the natural environment which has permeated the previous works of the collaborating artists, coupled with an optimistic view of the role of technology in catalysing change and initiating discussions on how it may help solve some of the planet's most urgent crises.
Purpose
Why we created Resonance
Our hypothesis is that many environmental problems stem from a psychological disconnection of humans from nature:
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The overall theme is that when people don't feel psychologically or spiritually connected to nature, they're less likely to value it intrinsically or feel motivated to protect it.
There has been a historical process of disenchantment in Western culture, where nature has become increasingly viewed as mechanistic and devoid of spirit or consciousness. This shift in perception and the rise of scientific rationalism made it easier for humans to exploit nature without moral qualms.
The separation between humans and nature in dominant Western culture has led to many viewing nature as "other" or as a resource to be used rather than a system we're part of. The dominant cultural worldview, which places humans as separate from or above nature, contributes to environmentally destructive behaviours.
The decline of animistic beliefs, where nature is seen as conscious and inspirited, is contributing to environmental degradation. When nature is not seen as sentient or sacred, it may be treated with less respect.
As people become disconnected from nature-based spiritual practices and traditional ecological knowledge, they lose understanding of sustainable ways of interacting with the environment. Some scholars argue that certain interpretations of Christianity, particularly those that place divine presence outside of nature, have contributed to this separation. Without a sense of nature as sentient or related to oneself, people lack the empathy that would motivate environmental protection.
Modern urban life and industrialisation has disconnected people from natural cycles and rhythms, leading to less awareness of and concern for environmental issues. Direct experiences in nature, especially in childhood, are important for developing a connection to the natural world. Lack of such experiences may lead to less environmental concern.​
The ecopsychological perspective suggests that reconnecting with nature is psychologically beneficial. The inverse implication is that disconnection from nature may have negative psychological effects, including less motivation to protect the environment.
We can frame the ecological crisis as fundamentally a spiritual crisis. The root of environmental problems lies in how we perceive and relate to nature on a deep, spiritual level. The solution proposed by Resonance, involves using technology to foster a renewed sense of connection, enchantment, and reverence for the natural world.
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Goals
What we hope to achieve through Resonance
01
Reconnect through direct experience and artistic expression
Practitioners emphasise the importance of spending time in nature, especially for children.
Create and encourage art that celebrates human-nature connection to help shift cultural perceptions.
02
Revive animistic perspectives & traditional ecological knowledge
Cultivate an understanding of nature as conscious and inspirited in order to foster a sense of connection.
Preserve and revive traditional knowledge about living in harmony with local ecosystems.
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04
Education
Teach about ecological interconnectedness and humans' place within natural systems to shift perspectives.
Deeper scientific understanding of ecology and our biological connections to other species can also help bridge the gap.
Ritual and spiritual practices & reframing cultural narratives
Invent new Nature-based spiritual practices to help people feel more connected to the natural world.
Shifting cultural stories and myths to emphasize human-nature interdependence rather than separation.
Develop and promote ethical systems that include consideration for non-human nature.
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Ecopsychological approaches
Therapies and practices that emphasise the psychological benefits of nature connection to help remedy the sense of separation.
Create a set of mindfulness practices and meditation techniques that increase awareness of one's surroundings and their natural elements, even in urban environments.
The Process
We trained an AI model on large volumes of literature and academic papers about anamistic religious nature worship practices, Ex NASA scientist James Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis, transpersonal and eco-psychology.
This model was used to generate an imaginary religion, designed to re-enchant humans with their natural environment, a connection that has been lost from centuries of patriarchal religion and capitalism.
We then used the model to flesh out details about the rituals, celebrations, deities and cultural practices of this fictional spiritual movement known as ‘Resonance.’
We used the model to explore how emerging technology such as AI can be used for good, to deepen our understanding of and connection to the natural world, inspiring awe and reverence for its complex systems working in harmony to sustain life.
We also investigated how to use knowledge from psychology and ancient spiritual practices to expand conciousness in order to experience oneness with the environment and therefore empathy and and accountability.
Next we used various AI and generative tools along with traditional methods of illusration and photogpraphy, analogue printing methods, and x-rays to create imagery, videos, music, guided meditations and ritual celebrations, all associated with different elements of Resonance.
These are hosted online on this site and accessed during the exhibition by QR codes displayed next to printed stills from the collection.
