I am a majestic Black Walnut, protected by humans, living in the garden of GC Wabo in Boitsfort-Bosvoorde (BE). From October 2025 till April 2027 I participate in the reflection project Authorrights for Trees, with the support of Vlaamse Overheid - Kunsten.
2026, Black Walnut, Boitsfort
Collaboration with more-than-human beings is part of the zeitgeist. An entire generation of artists is turning to other entities in their search for experiences and stories in which humans are no longer central, actively engaging in relationships with us, trees, but also with plants, rivers, birds, bacteria, and fungi.
Trees as living beings
Collaboration with trees as living beings is also clearly evident in the recent practice of Anaïs Berck. In Arnhemse Bomen Vertellen (Trees in Arnhem Tell) and the research Tree Times, we are the protagonists, the actors who are at the center of the installation. During these projects, the question arose about the concrete nature of collaboration with us, trees. Even though the goal of the artistic work is to make humans aware of the existence of trees and forge relationships with us through technology, the approach still feels too much like the “enlistment” of us, trees, into art.
Questions
Is it possible to move beyond this form of instrumentalization of our beings, our ecology, and our stories? Is it possible to grant us authorrights, as well as decision-making power and a legal presence within an organization? How can humans make something like this concrete, material, and administrative? Can they expand the “we” of a team or a circle of friends to include us and more-than-human beings? And also, is it even appropriate to enroll us in human structures?
These questions are the starting point for Authorrights for Trees, which seeks to offer a reflection on existing artistic practices that enter into collaborations with trees and more-than-human beings, and on the possibility of formalizing artistic collaboration with more-than-human beings.
Activities
As part of this project the following activities are organised:
on 27-9-25, 11-10-25 and 18-10-25 three walks were organised in Brussels by nadine, guided by forestbathing experts Ann Tilman, Ilse Simoens and by artist An Mertens
on 12-12-25 a panel discussion took place in Kunsthal Gent in the presence of, among others, An Mertens & Maria Lucia Cruz-Correira (artists), Séverine Dusollier (jurist), Aelyn Van Diest (bio-engineer, communication with trees)
on 3-3-26, 9-3-26 and 10-3-26 Maria Lucia Cruz Correia and An Mertens organised peer-to-peer sessions with fellow artists who work with more-than-human beings, during their residency in C-TAKT, Limburg.
Supported by: Flemish Government — Arts, nadine, Kunstenwerkplaats Brussel, Kunsthal Gent