Knowledge in Materials and Spiritual Intelligence: Sara Abdu, Renan Laru-an, Regina Maria Möller, Susanne Pfeffer

The hall and section of the Biennale bearing this title (B5) celebrates natural materials such as earth, minerals, and plants. Juniper, rattan, rubber, mulberry, camphor, lacquer, and organically dyed textiles are central to the creation of the works on view. Through a wide range of artistic expressions, artists trace the intelligence embedded in these materials and the cultural significance of flora and fauna, underlining their ecological, economic, and spiritual relevance. While this panel reflects about the preciousness of traditional knowledge and craft, it also discusses how art touches upon our emotions and how it can provide a space to collectively develop empathy.