Eco-Human Theory and Practice
ISSN 2713 – 184x
Ecophilosophy
Ecopsychology
Ecotherapy
Eco Art Therapy
Ecological Education
The "Green" Arts
Eco-aesthetics
Volume 4 (2023) Issue 1
Current Issue
Current Issue
EDITORIAL: EARTH DECOLONIZATION AND ECOLOGICAL CIVILIZATION
CURRENT ISSUE KEY ARTICLES
CURRENT ISSUE KEY ARTICLES

 

The new issue of the journal falls on the dramatic moment of the military confrontation in Ukraine, which provoked the most serious humanitarian, economic and moral losses. The current situation is also deeply ecologically destructive. It is characterized by the priority of geostrategic thinking, and relegates to the background the tasks of sustainable development and the implementation of international policies related to confronting the environmental crisis. A new ghost of ‘Dark Ages’ hangs over humanity, but ‘Dark Ages’ are really ages in which oppressive hierarchical social structures are dissolved, ecosystems are able to regenerate, and the creativity unleashed among people paves the way for the rise of new, less oppressive and more sustainable civilizations.

COLONIZATION - DECOLONIZATION: ENVIRONMENTAL, CIVILIZATIONAL, GEOPOLITICAL ASPECTS
CURRENT ISSUE KEY ARTICLES
CURRENT ISSUE KEY ARTICLES

 

Several experts in expressive arts, therapy and ecopsychology share their views on various aspects of colonization and decolonization. The participants in the discussion refer to the current situation in the world, characterized by the transition from a globalized monopolar world order to a multipolar/multilateral one. The issues of colonization and decolonization are considered in this discussion from an ecopoetic point of view, taking into account the ecological and cultural-historical perspective. The discussion is built in the form of a polylogue, where different authors use scientific and biographical discourse, academic and poetic language in order to convey the drama of the current situation and their response to the existential challenge associated with the decisive historical moment of ecological, cultural and geopolitical decolonization.

ECOPOIESIS: A MANIFESTO FOR ECOLOGICAL CIVILIZATION
CURRENT ISSUE KEY ARTICLES
CURRENT ISSUE KEY ARTICLES

 

The Manifesto of Ecological Civilization contains the main provisions related to a new type of civilization, which should replace the industrial civilization, which has actually exhausted the potential of its development and has become the leading force for the destruction of humans and the living environment. A Manifesto for Ecological Civilization is the basis of the scenario for the development of culture and various public institutions, recognizing the potential of people to control their own destiny, to take effective steps to preserve life on earth.

 

Featured Articles
2205.23

This article is embraced in a series of publications for a new thematic issue of the journal entitled: ‘Animals as partners: cultural, ecological, therapeutic implications.’ It offers a critical exploration of how a shifting cultural, aesthetic, political and media-shaped landscape assigns various roles and values attributed to animals in contemporary society, and the consequences for living conditions of animals and humans alike. It integrates research from innovative critical animal studies and a range of areas such as ecology, sociology, philosophy, and cultural studies, and considers human-animal relationship from the post-human, environmental humanity and eco-human perspectives. In order to grasp the relevance of the deeply intertwined relationship between human and animal, or between the culture/nature dichotomy, the nexus between science and contemporary art is discussed and illustrated with artworks of some renowned artists.

1805.23

This article is embraced in a series of publications for a new thematic issue of the journal entitled: ‘Animals as partners: cultural, ecological, therapeutic implications.’ Following the thinking of Jacques Derrida, in which difference implies commonality, this essay problematizes the distinction between human beings and animals which is taken for granted in and constitutes the Western philosophical tradition. Philosophy defines human being by the capacity to reason in opposition to animal existence, but suffering is common to both humans and animals. Derrida refers to the novel, Elizabeth Costello, by J. M. Coetzee, in which the eponymous character, Elizabeth Costello, testifies to feeling “wounded” by the suffering of animals as the primary mode of encountering them, thus shifting the discussion from reason and philosophical discourse to that of feeling and the arts.

1805.23

This interview is embraced in a series of publications for a new thematic issue of the journal entitled: ‘Animals as partners: cultural, ecological, therapeutic implications.’ In an interview, Scottish artist and art therapist Beverley A'Court talks about the holistic, environmental/ecological approach in art and art therapy. Considering the role of the environment from the point of view of such art therapy, she dwells on the phenomena of spontaneous participation of animals in creative acts and the art therapy process, their ability to “resonate” with the experiences of clients and respond to their emotional needs. Holistic art therapy is presented as allowing on a new basis to understand the participation of different forms of life in interaction and co-creation with each other aimed at restoring health, beauty and well-being.

0905.23

In 2018, a writer and an architect created a program called ECOPOESIS with the goal of gathering diverse groups to discuss climate change as feeling and experience, while engaging in shared design craft work. The project has three forms to date, curated, invitation-only gatherings, large public events attached to festivals, and online global reflections on local ecologies aligned with Earth Day. As in-person gatherings produced to counteract the doomsday data fixation around climate change, ECOPOESIS leverages human imagination via design, writing, and art to provoke pragmatic and positive hope for creating the Next Earth. This essay describes the participation of ECOPOESIS in The Performance Arcade Festival in New Zealand, dedicated to the topic of climate change. The Festival showed the role of the expressive arts and its ability to support the unity of the human community and to undertake large-scale initiatives, based on imagination and creativity, in order to overcome the consequences of the destruction and trauma brought about by climate change. In describing the group’s participation in this festival, the author refers to the devastating cyclone that occurred during the event and affected some areas of New Zealand.

1801.23

'Ecopoiesis: A Manifesto for Ecological Civilization' contains the main provisions related to a new type of civilization, which should replace the industrial civilization, which has actually exhausted the potential of its development and has become the leading force for the destruction of humans and the living environment. A Manifesto for Ecological Civilization is the basis of the scenario for the development of culture and various public institutions, recognizing the potential of people to control their own destiny, to take effective steps to preserve life on earth.

Название
Book reviews and interviews
News and Events
THE 16th CLAREMONT INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON ECOLOGICAL CIVILIZATION
2023-05-27 20:59:33THE 16th CLAREMONT INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON ECOLOGICAL CIVILIZATION
The Claremont International Forum on Ecological Civilization (a.k.a. the Claremont Eco Forum) is the earliest and largest forum on ecological civilization in the West. The Forum is organized by Institute for Postmodern China and Center for Process Studies since 2006. The 16th International Forum on Ecological Civilization & 5th International Youth Forum on Ecological Civilization have been held on May 25-27, 2023, fully online, and their main theme was Deep Transformation for Ecological Civilization. The mission of the forum is to bring together creative academics, non-profit leaders, governmental officials, and leading activists, Chinese and Non-Chinese, to explore new worldviews, new way of thinking, new models of development, new way of organic farming, and new models of education in the transition toward ecological civilization.
 
MEMORIAL TO NEWTON HARRISON, A FOUNDER OF THE ECO-ART MOVEMENT
2022-10-02 08:59:20MEMORIAL TO NEWTON HARRISON, A FOUNDER OF THE ECO-ART MOVEMENT

Newton Harrison, who, with his wife, Helen Mayer Harrison, was a founder of the eco-art movement, died on Sept. 4, in Santa Cruz, Calif. He was a Research Professor and Director of the Center for the Study of the Force Majeure at the University of California at Santa Cruz, Director of Harrisons Studio, and Professor Emeritus at the University of California at San Diego, an Advisor of the “Ecopoiesis: Eco-Human Theory and Practice” journal

TOUCHING NATURE: TOUCHED BY NATURE: AN ENVIRONMENTAL ARTS THERAPY EXHIBITION REVIEW BY STELLA PHIPPS
2021-05-07 17:59:03TOUCHING NATURE: TOUCHED BY NATURE: AN ENVIRONMENTAL ARTS THERAPY EXHIBITION REVIEW BY STELLA PHIPPS
Stella Phipps shares her perception of TOUCHING NATURE: TOUCHED BY NATURE: AN ENVIRONMENTAL ARTS THERAPY EXHIBITION she attended in north London on last November. The exhibition aimed to raise awareness about environmental arts therapy and the many benefits it can offer artists, expressive/creative arts therapists, and the communities in which we live.
THE DEEP WEALTH OF THIS NATION SCOTLAND
2021-05-07 17:34:09THE DEEP WEALTH OF THIS NATION SCOTLAND

Newton Harrison produced a work entitled The Deep Wealth of This Nation Scotland. In it, in 10 images and 10 texts, he proposed how the country of Scotland can move successfully and abundantly through a heatwave. Some images and texts of The Deep Wealth of This Nation Scotland when it was last shown in the TaiPei Biennial illustrate his new project. It will soon be shown again in Scotland, as the country is going into a discourse on its well-being given temperature shock.

MUSIC AT TIMES OF THE ECO-HUMAN CRISIS: CARRIE HERBERT AND ‘THE ALCHEMY OF THERAPEUTIC SONGWRITING‘
2021-02-08 15:11:15MUSIC AT TIMES OF THE ECO-HUMAN CRISIS: CARRIE HERBERT AND ‘THE ALCHEMY OF THERAPEUTIC SONGWRITING‘

At times of crisis, environmental and human challenges and transitions, music is a powerful force that can connect people across borders, touch people’s hearts and build empathy, trust and understanding. Music has an incredible therapeutic power to heal through expression of deep feelings and experiences in the current times of the eco-human crisis. Music is a universal language interwoven in all cultures. It is from this universal heart of music that ‘The Alchemy of Therapeutic Songwriting’ project, initiated by Carrie Herbert, musician and songwriter, was born.

Recent videos
NEWTON HARRISON. SENSORIUM: THE THINKING
2021-08-07 20:48:01NEWTON HARRISON. SENSORIUM: THE THINKING

Sensorium is both a work of art and of science that sets out to synthesize the survival problems that the world ocean faces in our emerging heat shocked future. The work is designed by Newton Harrison, and emerges from the Center for the Study of the Force Majeure, located at the University of California Santa Cruz. Personally, Sensorium is his most recent effort in addressing the ongoing degeneration of our world ocean’s life web. Sensorium is presented as a work of art and an interface for our human interaction and dialogue with our world ocean’s life web. In this video he is proposing a form of expression that references the whole systems knowing that our ancestors practiced as their everyday survival motif and that has now faded to a whisper in everyday western life.

ALEXANDRA KIRILLOVA - VOICE WORK AS A WAY OF ESTABLISHING CONNECTION WITH THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
2020-05-04 14:37:35ALEXANDRA KIRILLOVA - VOICE WORK AS A WAY OF ESTABLISHING CONNECTION WITH THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Alexandra Kirillova, singer, psychologist and vocal practitioner, talks about how singing and voice work are based on synchronizing a person’s state and inner nature with the environment, establishing a deep healing connection with the natural world and a specific landscape.
VLADISLAV GRISHIN: THE ROLE OF DOCUMENTARY FILM IN SUPPORTING ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES.
2020-04-22 22:28:55VLADISLAV GRISHIN: THE ROLE OF DOCUMENTARY FILM IN SUPPORTING ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES.

Vladislav Grishin, director and screenwriter of the documentary film “Bears of Kamchatka,” shares his impressions of working on the film and the film’s ability to convey the direct experience of interacting with the natural environment and its inhabitants, which may support the spectator’s yearning to be closer to nature.

LEONID TISHKOV: ART AS AN ECOLOGICAL ACTION
2020-02-09 13:54:32LEONID TISHKOV: ART AS AN ECOLOGICAL ACTION

The artist Leonid Tishkov talks about his participation in a number of projects that help to draw attention to environmental problems and emphasizes the role of art in promoting environmental values.

VADIM RYABIKOV ON PSI-GEOGRAPHICAL MUSIC
2020-02-09 13:52:36VADIM RYABIKOV ON PSI-GEOGRAPHICAL MUSIC
Psychologist, musician, composer Vadim Ryabikov speaks about psi-geographical music as a special way of human interaction with natural landscapes, turning the experience of the landscape into aesthetic images that can change our attitude to the environment and have a healing effect.
Featured artists

An artist from St.Petersburg, Alexandra Dvornikova, gave an interview to our journal, talking about her work and its connection with nature, about the artist's role in promoting environmental values and ecological culture, developing an environmental awareness, about communicating with the natural world as a source of inspiration, beauty and healing.

At times of crisis, environmental and human challenges and transitions, music is a powerful force that can connect people across borders, touch people’s hearts and build empathy, trust and understanding. Music has an incredible therapeutic power to heal through expression of deep feelings and experiences in the current times of the eco-human crisis. Music is a universal language interwoven in all cultures. It is from this universal heart of music that ‘The Alchemy of Therapeutic Songwriting’ project, initiated by Carrie Herbert, musician and songwriter, was born.

This essay was written in response to Alexander’s Kopytin’s questions inviting Shaun McNiff to expand upon his presentation at the Ecological/Earth-Based Arts Therapies Conference in August of 2020 where he discussed the need for a depth psychology of art and nature. Based on an all-inclusive idea of nature and with reference to the ideas of James Hillman and Thomas Berry, the author presents his understanding of art as a force of nature. He illustrates his statements with his own art.

In this excerpt from their book, Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens explore the realms of ecosexuality as they became lovers with the Earth and made their mutual pleasure an embodied expression of passion for the environment. Since 2008, they have been not just pushing but obliterating the boundaries circumscribing biology and ecology, creating ecosexual art in their performance of an environmentalism that is feminist, queer, sensual, sexual, posthuman, materialist, exuberant, and steeped in humor. 

Moscow artist Maxim Demin gave an interview to our journal, in which he talks about the connection of his work with traditional iconography and its interaction with the environment, time, space, his study of natural dynamics and life cycles of natural materials and objects, and spiritual sources of creativity.

Musician, composer, poet and singer Riya Volkova talks about her creative endeavors related to playing the Russian harp (the ‘gusli’), her attitude to the traditional musical culture of the peoples of North-West Russia and traditional music’s connection with new musical trends, as well as the importance of nature for her work.

Two artists from NYC, Jean Davis and Nancy Wu, gave an interview to our journal in which they talk about their environmental artistic endeavors linked to Resurrect Studio which entails gathering broken, discarded, but ultimately luminous pieces of glass fragments found on the ocean coastal line.  The glass sculptures collectively tell a story of hope and inspiration, of sacred and profane.

About the journal

In accordance with the Law of the Russian Federation on the Mass Media, the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Communications (Roskomnadzor) on September 22, 2020, the web-based publication - The peer-reviewed scientific online journal "Ecopoiesis: Eco-Human Theory and Practice" was registered (registration number El No. FS77-79134).

“Ecopoiesis: Eco-Human Theory and Practice” is the international multidisciplinary Journal focused on building an eco-human paradigm, disseminating eco-human knowledge and technology based on the alliance of ecology, humanities and the arts. Our journal aims to be a vibrant forum of theories and practices aimed at harmonizing the relations of mankind and the natural world in the interests of sustainable development, the creation of Eco-Humanity as a new community of human beings and more-than-human world. The human being is an ecological being, not separate from the world. The Ecopoiesis journal is based on that premise and aims to develop a body of theory and practice within that framework.

The Journal promotes dialogue and cooperation between ecologists, philosophers, doctors, educators, psychologists, artists, musicians, designers, social activists, business representatives in the name of eco-human values, human health and well-being, in close connection with concern for the environment. The Journal supports the development and implementation of new environmentally-friendly concepts, technologies and practices in the various fields of health and public life, education and social work.

One of the priority tasks of the Journal is to demonstrate and support the significant role of the arts in their alliance with ecology and the humanities for the restoration and development of constructive relations with nature, raising environmental awareness and promoting nature-friendly lifestyles.

The Journal publishes articles describing new eco-human concepts and practices, technologies and applied research data at the intersection of humanities, ecology and the arts, as well as interviews and conference reports related to the emerging eco-human field. It encourages artwork, music and other creative products related to eco-human practices and the new global community of Eco-Humanity.