‘In(di)visible Infrastructures’ lectures series at RADIUS
CARADT and the Avans Masters of Arts recently hosted two insightful sessions of the lecture series In(di)visible Infrastructures, Bridging Overseen Worlds at RADIUS (Center for Contemporary Art and Ecology) in Delft. These sessions explored the interplay between overlooked infrastructures and the ideologies shaping contemporary human and more-than-human interactions. MIVC students actively participated in these sessions, contributing their perspectives and engaging with critical dialogues.
November 25: Unpacking Complex Infrastructures and Ideologies
The first event, held on Monday, November 25, brought together a diverse group of speakers, including Dr. Ramon Amaro (Nieuwe Instituut), Prof. Sebastian Olma (CARADT), Adriana Knouf (Avans Masters of Arts), Louis Alderson-Bythell (Royal College of Art), and Samantha Jenkins (Imperial College London/Natural History Museum). The talks delved into the intricate relationships between the more-than-human-worlds and infrastructures of power.
Highlights included discussions on hybrid, collaborative communities exemplified by lichens and extremophiles, alongside botanical anomalies and artistic practices challenging normative human-nature paradigms. Dr. Aliya Say examined the works of artists and scientists like Emma Kunz and Kate Brown to address these themes, while Anna Mikkola’s presentation reflected on the history of astrobotany and of growing plants in microgravity, employing feminist science studies to question concepts of embodiment and alienation.
The session concluded with a panel discussion and Q&A, fostering a rich exchange of ideas among speakers, students, and the audience.
November 27: Keynotes on Interdependence and Entanglement
On Wednesday, November 27, the series continued with insightful keynotes from Professor Tim Ingold and Dr. Annouchka Bayley (Cambridge University). Their contributions focused on interdependence and entanglement between human and natural systems, encouraging reflection on the interconnectedness that underpins these relationships. Avans Masters of Arts students actively engaged in these discussions, deepening their understanding of these critical themes.
Workshops
The series was complemented by two engaging workshops in collaboration with Situated Art and Design and Cultural Creative Industries research groups:
Workshop ‘Terroir: Engaging Through Material with the Wild’: Held at Avans Creative Innovation Campus and Design Museum Den Bosch, this workshop was led by Annemarie Piscaer, researcher in Situated Art, Design, and Technology. It focused on the concept of “Terroir,” borrowed from the culinary world, to explore how the physical environment shapes materials and embodied experiences. Participants were invited to reflect on whether materials are natural or man-made, and how local and external elements influence their form and meaning.
Workshop ‘Welcome to the Weird and the Dirty’: Hosted at Club Solo in Breda, this session concluded the series with an inquiry into the messy realities of design processes. Led by Professor Cultural and Creative Industries Sebastian Olma, Rob Leijdekkers, Renée van Oploo, and Jess Henderson, the workshop challenged participants to embrace unsterile realities and explore how unconventional approaches can generate nuanced and effective change in design and organizational practices.
Both workshops provided opportunities for active participation and critical engagement, offering fresh perspectives on the themes discussed in the lecture series. The participation of Avans Masters of Arts students added a dynamic and reflective layer to the series, emphasizing the importance of integrating emerging practitioners into these dialogues.
‘How can art and design cultivate critical expressions rooted in ethics of care and relationality to influence ecological, social, and economic structures?’
Delfina Fantini van Ditmar, PhD, focuses on ecological design and reflective practices as Professor of Biodesign and More-than-Human Perspectives. With a background in biology and design research, she explores paradigm shifts and material ethics, advancing regenerative and more-than-human perspectives
‘Our research group investigates the role artists, designers and cultural producers in general can play in developing the aesthetics and poetics of a desirable future.’
Sebastian Olma is professor Cultural and Creative Industries. He works for the Expertise Centre Art, Design and Technology.
‘As a result of my current research, I ask the students the questions “what is your work” and “what works for you.’
Rob Leijdekkers is a researcher at the Cultural and Creative Industries research group and a tutor at the Art & Research programme at St. Joost School of Art & Design.
‘Humans are atmospheric beings, particles, dust, in intimate cycles of exchange, actors with an incredible force.’
‘We need to become attuned actors with a deeper understanding of all the other particles.’
Annemarie Piscaer is a researcher in the Situated Art, Design and Technology research group and tutor on the New Design and Attitudes study programme at St. Joost School of Art & Design.
‘Within my practice I create spaces for introspection while exploring ethical dilemmas. ’
In 2017, I graduated from St. Joost in Den Bosch, and I hold a Master’s in Applied Ethics from Utrecht University. Presently, I work as an artist, am an active member of the YAFF art collective, and concurrently serve as a lecturer.
‘In social and cultural research there is increasing importance in research methodologies and devices that cut across fields and disciplines, becoming transdisciplinary.’
As a researcher at CARADT, Jess explores mental health in the creative sectors. Her work investigates burnout and depression, using artistic methods to make emotions visible and influence artistic practices.
The Regenerative Art and Design (RAD) research group seeks to contribute to a new generation of regenerative designers and artists who address the pressing need for transitions that support planetary health. By taking whole systems responsibility through collaborative practices, the group aims to create transformative pathways for reimagining design futures grounded in care and ecological integrity.