Inspired by the sharp story-telling of ancient Islamic miniature paintings and illuminated manuscripts, this series of collages illustrates the ‘tale’ of how mankind begun to perceive of itself as different from nature, and all the repercussions (and new forms of agency) that came with it.

The demands that we’ve been imposing upon nature have been escalating at a ferocious rate since, leading to the loss of species and a rapid dismantling of life on Earth in favour of crops growing and livestock raising simply for the sake of us people. With fewer places to live and fewer food sources to feed on, animals must find food and shelter where we live, which has been proven to lead to disease spread.
On top of that, we live in times where the impacts of climate change and pollution are widely dismissed by many, with the fossil fuel industry, political lobbyists, media moguls and many brain-washed individuals spending large sums of money specifically to broadcast their denial positionalities worldwide.

Seeing all of the above (and enteratining all the contemplations that naturally continue to arise since the emergence of covid-19) the human race being the ultimate plague seems like an unbeatable conclusion to come to. And indeed, as we continue to grow used to the new forms of life that result of our
recklessness, we must face the fact that we might never return to the comforts that once were.

In this context, is it easier to destroy than to rebuild?
The answer to that I simply can not know. But we sure seem to be doing a heck of a job at the former option.

© 2020 Cora Marin | Berlin | contact@coramarin.com