Being Interspecies Master thesis
Attempts to Belong with Sheep - Gestures to Become with Fungi Collaborative research with more-than-humans
With Jahnavee Baruah
Lau’s Master's thesis is researching interspecies relationships with more-than-humans in Finland. This research is looking at the correspondences between humans and more-than-humans, focusing on two companions: sheep and fungi. They have been trying to restore dialogues thinking with gestures from craft, intuitive collaborative practices and mushroom foraging as a means of communication.
The practical collaborative component of the thesis emphasises the importance of shared craft activities in knowledge building and broadening perspectives. They collaborated with and got deeply inspired by Jahnavee Baruah, and different communities in Finland (farmers, spinners, makers). Attempting to connect with more-than-humans and the Land, they question domestication, our feelings of belonging and becoming together. They were researching ways in which sourcing materials (Finnish wool and fungi) influences the making process and strengthens our interspecies relationships.
This thesis attempts to open discussion on interspecies communication and more-than-human agency, combining written talks, essays and stories, installations, workshops, and textiles.
Thank you Aulikki, Saimi Parikka, Natasa Hodosi, Maija Vaara, Ilta Hämäri, Maija Fagerlund, Tiina Saivo, Petra Haikonen, Lucy Davis, Kirsi Niinimäki, Leonardo Uribe Hidalgo, Mithila Mohan, Thank you to the Sheep, Mushrooms and Forest.
While we were sitting in the train with Jahnavee each of us was holding parts of the same yarn. When I was plying it, I left too much twist and tension in the yarn. We were sitting together slowly opening up the over twists making them travel to the end of the yarn. If we spin clockwise then we ply anticlockwise and now going clockwise again to release some tension. The yarn looked beautiful, uneven and unique. While holding it in our hands we saw all its details and held the colors merged together. We were talking as the twist was traveling through our fingers.
Spinning and weaving is also a conversation between us, two human beings, to sheep, to fungi.
Spinning workshops were organised both in Aalto University and Maa-Tila.
