Elements of Being
at Venice
Image: Elements of Being, Cornelius Tulloch, 2022
Elements of Being is an immersive, multisensory experience fusing art and activism through a narrative-based installation. Presented Artists in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE) and WOVEN, this groundbreaking collaboration intertwines diverse voices and art forms as catalysts for environmental, social, and racial justice.
“AIRIE is proud to announce in partnership with WOVEN, Elements of Being, a narrative-based installation debuting at the European Cultural Center (ECC) Personal Structures exhibition at the Venice Biennale. In its seventh edition of the biennial contemporary art exhibition, Personal Structures will be on view from April 20th until November 2024 at the Palazzo Bembo in Venice, Italy.
Per the ECC website, “A wide selection of artworks from internationally renowned and emerging artists, photographers, and sculptors as well as worldwide academic institutions will be featured. This exhibition is intended to encourage dialogue, cultural exchange, and idea-sharing among its participants, exploring the themes of Time, Space, and Existence from a variety of perspectives.”
AIRIE and WOVEN invite viewers to an affirming space where diverse narratives of climate change and underrepresented voices intersect to create intersectional environmental dialogue. The experience explores the convergence of interdisciplinary choral music, painting, opera, performance, and dance. Inspired by the regenerative power of fire, symbolizing both destruction and renewal, the installation delves into the Everglades ecosystem and the prescribed burns conducted by the National Park Service to mitigate wildfires and foster regrowth. Through this exploration, fire becomes a multifaceted metaphor for humanity's role in addressing ecological crises and fostering collective action for environmental stewardship.
Elements of Being, curated by AIRIE Artistic Director Cornelius Tulloch, blends evocative soundscape compositions with recordings from the Everglades, an original opera piece by Kunya Rowley, as well as spoken word by Arsimmer McCoy, immersing audiences in a symphony of sounds. A dance composition from Gentry Isaiah George explores the power of movement as a narrative of environmental preservation and equality.
Earth Requiem, an interdisciplinary performance and installation conceived by Diana Wege, is presented as the nexus between environmental and social justice orchestrated by WOVEN Creative Director Klay Enos with four movements written by composers Errollyn Wallen, Eve Beglarian, Jeff Beal, and Sophy Him. Earth Requiem seeks to unify all people through a shared love for the planet.
This collaboration between AIRIE x WOVEN unveiling in Venice represents a meeting of creative voices committed to igniting meaningful change. As art transcends boundaries, it becomes a powerful force for advocacy, inviting all to witness the urgent dialogue unfolding in the artistic landscape. Elements of Being explores a transformative course toward an environmentally sustainable and socially equitable future for the planet and under-acknowledged communities through collective action.
About WOVEN
We Oppose Violence Everywhere Now (WOVEN) is a nonprofit organization aspiring to end violence in our lifetime. Founded in 2013 by New York activist and artist Diana Wege, WOVEN has expanded its vision to end violence against humanity, end intentional cruelty against animals, and find solutions to protect and preserve the natural environment.
About AIRIE
Artists in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit operating in Everglades National Park and the Greater Miami Area. AIRIE empowers artists to think creatively and critically about their relationship to the environment with a mission of revealing new narratives and solutions for social and environmental change. AIRIE's immersive residency program allows artists to live, research, and create inside Everglades National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site currently in danger of disappearing forever.
Elements of Being would not be possible without the generous support of the Cosmo Art & Science Foundation. Cosmo has set itself the task of promoting contemporary art and science in order to preserve the balance and respect between humans, animals and the environment. In the future, Cosmo will also support youth projects and is looking forward to joint activities.
