Beyond Human
Enchanted Matter: On Resonant Objects and the Life of Materials by Qloud
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‘Ecological relationships are invisible to us. We tend to see ecosystems as separate, when in reality, they're deeply interconnected in ways we often can't see,’ explains co-curator Giada Holland.
Interconnection is at the heart of curatorial platform Qloud’s new exhibition Enchanted Matter: On Resonant Objects and the Life of Materials. The idea came from conversations between co-curators Giada Holland and Dana Goh around post-human theory and philosopher Jane Bennett's concepts.
Bennett’s book, Vibrant Matter: A Political Ecology of Things, was a particular inspiration. In it, she challenges the idea that matter is passive. Instead, the author suggests that materials have their own agency beyond human intention. ‘Humans aren't separate from matter but part of the same material world, constantly influencing and being influenced by it. That perspective really shaped this exhibition because it shifts the focus away from humans as the centre, and instead asks us to consider how rivers, forests, oceans and even waste are active participants in shaping ecological systems,’ explains Holland.
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Qloud’s textile-focused exhibition The Sun is but a Morning Star at last year’s Festival was all about creativity and connection. This year, explains Goh, ‘we wanted the project to be built on that foundation while expanding into materiality more broadly.’ To this end, she reached out to Elina Yumasheva, co-lead of SustainLabRCA, the Royal College of Art’s cross-disciplinary society exploring sustainability. This in turn led to the collaboration with former RCA alumna and curator Holland.
Guided by SustainLabRCA, sustainability, in the context of this exhibition, emerges ‘not as a fixed goal, but as a consequence of recognising these ecological entanglements,’ explains Holland. Goh adds: ‘Sustainability can sometimes feel distant or overwhelming. I hope that, as we approach it through wonder, creativity and close observation, this encourages people to slow down, notice the histories and relationships held within materials and ecosystems. We can then reflect on how our own choices form part of a much larger system.’
‘Humans aren't separate from matter but part of the same material world, constantly influencing and being influenced by it.’ – Giada Holland
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Enchanted Matter has been designed as a multi-sensory experience. ‘Visitors will encounter different textures, forms, scales and physical qualities of the artworks, while our collaboration with Fifth String Fine Instruments from Vienna introduces sound into the space through a live violin performance on an instrument that dates back to the 1800s. Together, these elements allow visitors to experience the ideas physically and emotionally, rather than only encountering them through written explanations,’ says Goh.
The selection process was anonymous, so decisions were not influenced by an artist's name, age or background. The SustainLabRCA team first created a longlist, focusing on how strongly each artwork engaged with sustainability and the exhibition's wider themes. For Goh, this process was all about building a framework in which each artist's practice could be understood individually, while contributing to a wider conversation. ‘This allows us to focus on the strength and visuals of the work and the ideas behind it,’ she adds.
As a curatorial platform, Qloud aims to create exhibitions that are immersive and emotionally resonant, seamlessly blending art, craft, design, material, culture and contemporary aesthetics. This new exhibition embodies all these ideas.
‘I want to guide the experience without imposing a single interpretation, giving visitors just enough context while leaving space for their own curiosity and responses.’ – Dana Goh
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Words by Tamsin Kingswell
