Cascade of Ecological Momentum   ©Sophie Falkeis

ANTICIPATORY ECOLOGY MEETS SPECULATIVE DESIGN
What happens, if two species that have never interacted before are now going to encounter due to anthropocentrically changed climatic circumstances? 
The project “First Encounters” narrates the story of species that meet for the very first time, due to climate-changed induced range shifts. Our history of anthropogenic impact on biological processes provokes shifts in global animal movement patterns. This creates novel species interactions, as species that have evolved in isolation from one another come into contact for the first time. The current pandemic has shown, how the impacts of the encounter of bat and pangolin on a wildlife market can travel the globe within days. With more species inevitably crossing paths in the future, events like these are expected to happen more often. Patterns of movement become patterns of encounter. 
Building on empirical data of documented species range shifts the investigation drafts scenarios of species encounters and envisions possible consequences for our human lives and systems through the lens of Speculative Design - a project to visualise the entanglements of the planet ́ s ecosystems with human-made structures. 
As a spatial installation the project leads the story around the visitor to reconnect cause and effects and to bring the human back into relation to the dynamics he set off. With the entrance of the human into the ‚arena of encounters’ and thus into the story, the dynamics are kicked off and the human is now left to observe as the cascade unrolls. 
By exploring planetary inter-species dependencies the project shows that we are just one species amongst many, fostering visions of a of a multi-species society. As a long term goal the project aims at including other species in processes of geopolitical decision making.
2021
Full-scale walk-in installation - Exhibition «Alpen Traum & Wandlung», Kornhausforum Bern, Switzerland
​​​​​​​September 9 - October 16, 2022
Installation at MAK Museum of Applied Arts Vienna
as part of the exhibition «CLIMATE CARE» at Vienna Biennale for Change.
May 28 - October 10, 2021 
First Encounters - Exhibition «Nature Loves Technology» at the Dutch Innovation Pavillion at Floriade 2022, Almere, Netherlands themed «Growing Green Cities»
April 14 - October 9, 2022 
Photo 1 ©Marleen Stoker, Photo 2 ©Sophie Falkeis​​​​​​​
Full-scale walk-in installation at Festival Angewandte, University of Applied Arts Vienna
​​​​​​​June 29 - July 2, 2021
Exhibition at Vienna Design Week, Design in Gesellschaft, Vienna                                                  Photo: VIENNA DESIGN WEEK/ Kollektiv Fischka/ Philipp Podesser
​​​​​​​September 24 - October 3, 2021
Dutch Design Week Talk: Eco Pioneers, Next Biodiversity, Fifth NRE, Eindhoven                                                                                                  Stills: Video: Cutjongens
23.10.2021
Exhibitions:
Alpen Traum & Wandlung, Kornhausforum Bern, Bern  |  2022
         Online Archive
Nature Loves Technology, DIX Pavillion, Floriade 2022, Almere  |  2022
          Online Archive
Climate Care, Vienna Biennale for Change, MAK Vienna  |  2021
         Participants
Permanent Collection, MAK Design Labor, MAK Vienna   |  since 2021
         Permanent Collection
Festival Angewandte, University of Applied Arts, Vienna  |  2021
         Online Archive
Vienna Design Week, Design in Gesellschaft, Engerthstraße 124, Vienna  |  2021
         Program
Dutch Design Week, Bibliotheek Eindhoven, Eindhoven  |  2021
         Program

Selected Talks & Screenings:
UNESCO HQ - UN Glacier Preservation Year - Paris  | 20.03.2025
         Program
World Futures Studies Federation - Paris  | 25.10.2023
         Abstract
Species on the Move Conference - Bonita Springs, Florida  | 16.5.2023
         Keynote Lecture & Film Screening
New Design University, Lecture - St Pölten   | 16.3.2023
        Program
Im Gehen begriffen, Artist Talk - Kornhausforum Bern  | 14.9.2022
        Program
Women Designing the Future - EUNIC Denmark, Copenhagen   |  8.3.2024
        Program
ACF Beijing & OSTA - Artist Talk   |  13.9.2022
        Talk Video 
PRIMER21 Global Conference - Now What? - San Francisco  |  8.7.2021
         Program
DDW Talks: Eco Pioneers - Next Nature Network -  Next Biodiversity  |  23.10.2021
        Recap, Video
see About for a full list of talks
All pictures by Sophie Falkeis unless otherwise indicated.
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