The need for lively urban nature and the revegetation of cities has come into increasing focus in recent years. But what is urban nature and why is it so important? The traveling exhibition reflects on our perception of and relationship to non-human creatures and offers food for thought on how we as a species can (re)develop new relationships with nature. Nature is seen as a complex ecosystem, in which every interaction - whether between microorganisms, insects, trees or even wild herbs - entails a series of effects. For (re)connecting.earth , 16 international artists have created instructions for the realization of artworks that offer viewers the possibility to interact with the animals and plants living in urban space in a concrete or figurative way.

Instructions and art?

Instructions were increasingly used in performances in the 1960s and 1970s, but the exploration of them goes back further. An early precursor, Marcel Duchamp wrote the first "artistic" instruction as early as 1919 - as a gift for his sister's wedding. The instructional format forges special relationships between artists and audiences, who are invited to take an active and co-producing role in exchanging artistic ideas.