Publications

Elements for a World: STONE, WATER, WOOD, FIRE, SKY

Elements for a World is a series of five publications specially produced in conjunction with the exhibition Let's Talk About the Weather: Art and Ecology in a Time of Crisis. Featuring newly commissioned essays and visual contributions, each publication is organized around a material reference – stone, wood, sky, water, and fire – symbolizing the elemental building blocks of our world. Each "element" examines urgent ecological concerns from a local and global perspective. The publications are edited by Ashkan Sepahvand, in collaboration with Nora Razian and Nataša Petrešin-Bachelez.

The contributions in Elements for a World are a response to the current climate crisis through scientific, poetic, political, and speculative contributions. The publications are available at the Sursock Museum Store. For international orders please email the Sursock Museum Store at [email protected]

STONE looks at petrohistories and petrocultures, speculating into the future while also looking at the history of energy. With contributions by Rania Ghosn (Design Earth), Hamza Hamouchene, Fadi Mansour, Namik Mačkić, and Sophia Al Maria.

WATER looks at the politics of waste, toxicity, corruption, and contamination. With contributions by Angela Anderson, Marwa Arsanios, Ewen Chardronnet, Adib Dada, Jessika Khazrik, and Angela Melitopoulos.

WOOD looks at the intersection of nature and the legal sphere and the discourse around nature as a legal subject. With contributions by Ursula Biemann and Paulo Tavares, Forensic Architecture, Razmig Keucheyan, Bronwyn Lay, and Erica Lee and Zoe Todd.

FIRE approaches the body's interaction with its environment, thinking beyond the confines of the human body. With contributions by Lara Khaldi, Achille Mbembe, Elizabeth Povinelli, Françoise Vergès, and Elisabeth von Samsonow.

SKY challenges our current cosmology of the world through engaging with varied worldviews from across the globe and across time. With contributions by Omar Berrada and Sarah Riggs, Kapwani Kiwanga, Adrian Lahoud, Pedro Neves Marques, and Pelin Tan.

 

You can download the publications' table of contents and introductions below:

STONE
Table of contents: Arabic | English
Introduction: Arabic | English

WATER
Table of contents: Arabic | English
Introduction: Arabic | English

WOOD
Table of contents: Arabic | English
Introduction: Arabic | English

FIRE
Table of contents: Arabic | English
Introduction: Arabic | English

SKY
Table of contents: Arabic | English
Introduction: Arabic | English