LONGTERM PARTICIPATORY CITYCLIP PROJECT,
MUSEUM OF THE HISTORY OF ST. PETERSBURG

SUPPORTED BY “The Nordic Weeks” in St.Petersburg

NATURE IN THE CITY.
NON-HUMAN HETEROTOPIAS
non-human research laboratory program
Many cities are becoming atypical (as we consider it) environment for a large number of biological species (such as animals, plants, fungi, etc.) that do not belong to the genus Homo. Some of these species existed here before the city appeared, others were brought here by humans while some simply moved here and made themselves at home.

These species occupied ecological niches and became invisible communities within the city. Weed grasses, pigeons, and ants coexist with us in the same space, but it seems as if they violate the established order and sterility of a comfortable urban civilization.

Thus, they began to form non-human heterotopias, alternative spaces which are not part of a "normal" city, but have a strong connection to it.
Many cities are becoming atypical (as we consider it) environment for a large number of biological species (such as animals, plants, fungi, etc.) that do not belong to the genus Homo. Some of these species existed here before the city appeared, others were brought here by humans while some simply moved here and made themselves at home.

These species occupied ecological niches and became invisible communities within the city. Weed grasses, pigeons, and ants coexist with us in the same space, but it seems as if they violate the established order and sterility of a comfortable urban civilization.

Thus, they began to form non-human heterotopias, alternative spaces which are not part of a "normal" city, but have a strong connection to it.
The anthropocentric development of human thought has made us exceptional long ago, and almost deleted us from all natural relationships, of which we have never ceased to be integral participants. In the context of the research project, we will consider other species in the city as neighbors undergoing joint evolution with us.
The anthropocentric development of human thought has made us exceptional long ago, and almost deleted us from all natural relationships, of which we have never ceased to be integral participants. In the context of the research project, we will consider other species in the city as neighbors undergoing joint evolution with us.
Donna Haraway, biologist and philosopher of science, offers us several tools to get closer to understanding those "others" who live among us in the city. These tools go beyond natural science knowledge, new philosophic and art practices, but also science fiction, fabulation, and narrative speculation.

We will use all those tools. Through new knowledge and a sense of empathy, the project offers opportunities for experiment, research, and reflection to narrow the gap between human and non-human within the city and try out various ways to engage with those whom we often find invisible or unwanted.

Donna Haraway, biologist and philosopher of science, offers us several tools to get closer to understanding those "others" who live among us in the city. These tools go beyond natural science knowledge, new philosophic and art practices, but also science fiction, fabulation, and narrative speculation.

We will use all those tools. Through new knowledge and a sense of empathy, the project offers opportunities for experiment, research, and reflection to narrow the gap between human and non-human within the city and try out various ways to engage with those whom we often find invisible or unwanted.
RESEARCH PROGRAM

Please note that some of the meetings will be held in English without translation

participation in the program is free, you need to apply through the Open Call

(the button for a google form is at the bottom of the page)


The research laboratory offers an intensive program of meetings, both online and offline with scientists (geobotanist, entomologist, and ornithologist), artists (from Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Russia), social anthropologists, and philosophy researchers.

Program format: lectures, discussions, workshops, walks.
The research laboratory offers an intensive program of meetings, both online and offline with scientists (geobotanist, entomologist, and ornithologist), artists (from Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Russia), social anthropologists, and philosophy researchers.

Program format: lectures, discussions, workshops, walks.
from July 31 to August 31

we will meet with mentors, conduct field research, keep naturalist journals and apply various art optics and practices to the territories we explore

September 1–5

together with a playwright, we will create a common text/score about the experience of acquaintance with the nonhuman agents

September 8–12
we will  transform the created text /score into an art-zine/magazine, which will be showcased as the main work at the exhibition as part of the "The Nordic Weeks" festival

Preliminary meeting dates:

July 31;
August 1, 5–8, 10, 11, 14–16, 19–22, 27–30;
September 1–5; 8–12

program's schedule is subject to change;
detailed schedule will be sent to selected participants
"THE NORDIC WEEKS"
International noncommercial art and cultural festival is orgranized in the North-West Russia since 2010 by the Consulates General of Sweden, Finland, and Norway in St. Petersburg and Murmansk, Embassies of Denmark and Iceland in Moscow, the Representative Office of the Faroe Islands in Moscow, the Finnish Institute and Danish Cultural Institute in St. Petersburg.

In 2021, the Festival is held under the aegis of the Finnish Presidency of the Nordic intergovernmental cooperation and coordinated in partnership with the Danish Cultural Institute and with the financial support of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
"THE NORDIC WEEKS"
International noncommercial art and cultural festival is orgranized in the North-West Russia since 2010 by the Consulates General of Sweden, Finland, and Norway in St. Petersburg and Murmansk, Embassies of Denmark and Iceland in Moscow, the Representative Office of the Faroe Islands in Moscow, the Finnish Institute and Danish Cultural Institute in St. Petersburg.

In 2021, the Festival is held under the aegis of the Finnish Presidency of the Nordic intergovernmental cooperation and coordinated in partnership with the Danish Cultural Institute and with the financial support of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
PROGRAM HUMAN TEAM
Daria Boldyreva
curator,
art historian
author of a Telegram channel on plants
in art and culture
Plants' Curator
Lisa Kukushkina
project artist and designer
Olga Mnishko
project producer
urban activist, ideologist of projects "Bicyclization of St. Petersburg," the festival "Living Streets" and the educational project "The Right for Water"
Ekaterina Nikitina
critical animal studies
researcher 
curator of Posthuman Studies Lab; 
Professor of the International Master's Program in Art & Science at ITMO University
artist, researcher and a pedagogue
working with the artistic research project Meetings with Remarkable and Unremarkable Trees
artist
Professor of Art,
Gender Studies,
Linköping University, Sweden;
artistic leader and co-director
of Seed Box —
interdisciplinary and international
Environmental Humanities
research program
artist, researcher and educator
professor at OsloMet Institute of Art, Design and Drama;
leads FeLT — Futures of Living Technologies;
editor of Oslofjord Ecologies
ceramic artist
author of "River-and-I" artist book; focusing on natureculture issues; performs site-responsive ceramic regenerative rituals for rewilding culture
artist and researcher
working in a feminist posthumanities vein of critical and creative inquiry with the research project 
Humus economicus at the National Historical Museums in Sweden, in the collective
 (P)art of the Biomass, and as a key member of 
The Posthumanities Hub
Irina Varganova
botanist, plant ecologist
junior research fellow of All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources;
educator and author of Plant Watching tours for the Open Map
Oleg Valersky
entomologist
head of the entomological association;
engaged in the maintenance and breeding of exotic invertebrates

Sergey Petrov

ornithologist

junior research fellow of Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences,

founder of the project "Ornithological excursions"

Ilya Dolgov
artist, interface designer, plant breeder

founder and author of the Forest Journal,

Flaming archipelago, author of the Essex Succulent Review Telegram channel

Lisa Biletskaya
artist

editor of the magazine of art documentary "NOGA",

author of eco-oracle Tarot cards "Glowwood"

Where dogs run
art group
artistic practice is concentrated mainly in the field of technological art and uses a wide range of multimedia: video, robotics, hybrid installations, performance and DIY
Marina Karpova
composer
educator, sound artist and engineer, independent sound researcher, author of
SOUND TOURS//FIELD RECORDING LAB
Alina Shklyarskaya
playwright, art critic

author of texts for modern performance productions:

"The lake where you live and around which you walk",

co-founder of Maailmanloppu Postanatomic Design Theater

Elena Nikiforova
social anthropologist
project researcher of
"LAYERED NEIGHBORHOOD PIE"
Olga Brednikova
social anthropologist
project researcher of
"LAYERED NEIGHBORHOOD PIE"
ONLINE EXHIBITION
based on lab results
GO
OPEN CALL CLOSED
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CONTACTS
cityscrepy@gmail.com
Enjoy your time exploring the city
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