Zheng Bo Weed Party, detail of the installation
Photo : courtesy of the artist

Towards an Ecosophical Art

In The Three Ecologies, Félix Guattari explains that a true ecological revolution could never take place without a paradigm shift on a global scale, which would not be limited solely to environmental concerns but would also involve the spheres of social relations and human subjectivity. In Guattari’s view, contemporary issues should be considered no longer separately but as a whole by learning to think transversally, as “it is not only species that are becoming extinct but also the words, phrases, and gestures of human solidarity."¹ 1 - Félix Guattari, The Three Ecologies,, trans. Ian Pindar and Paul Sutton (London: The Athlone Press, 2000), 44. He thus groups together three ecologies — environmental, social, and mental — under the concept of ecosophy, which characterizes an engagement that is at once practical and theoretical, political, and aesthetic.

Facebook Tweet LinkedIn Email

This content is available with a Digital or Premium subscription only. Subscribe to read the full text and access all our Features, Off-Features, Portfolios, and Columns!

Subscribe (starting at $20)

Already have a Digital or Premium subscription?

Don’t want to subscribe? Additional content is available with an Esse account. It’s free and no purchase will ever be required. Create an account or log in:

My Account