Entangled Intelligences: Interspecies Dialogues of Art

Ecocentric Future Lab
Presented in partnership with Jiabao Li

Entangled Intelligences invites visitors to experience a unique exhibition that challenges anthropocentric thinking and embraces the diverse forms of intelligence found in the natural world. Featuring works by the Ecocentric Future Lab directed by Jiabao Li and other renowned artists, this exhibition explores the dynamic range of non-human intelligences, offering a fresh perspective on our connection with the natural world.

Each artwork in Entangled Intelligences is a collaboration between the artist and an animal, demonstrating how art can transcend the human realm and foster a deeper understanding of other species. From the introspective journey of Sputniko!’s Crowbot Jenny, who communicates with crows through her custom-built device, to the intimate exchange of hair between Aki Inomata and her dog, each piece offers a glimpse into the complex, often overlooked, relationships that exist between humans and animals. Throughout the exhibition, visitors are encouraged to contemplate the ethical implications of our interactions with other species, as well as the broader environmental concerns that shape our world. Through works such as Jiabao Li’s playful reinterpretation of human-made borders by a squid, the exhibition raises critical questions about the consequences of our actions on the planet and its inhabitants.

Entangled Intelligences also delves into the world of emotions and personal experiences, highlighting the profound connections that can be forged between humans and animals. With pieces like Virginia L. Montgomery’s surreal dreamscape O, Luna, inspired by her time spent cocooned with her moths, Brad Hakes’ observation and documentation of a resident spider’s web-building process, the exhibition invites visitors to empathize with the lives and perspectives of these non-human beings.

Through innovative uses of technology, unconventional materials, and intimate collaborations with animals, Entangled Intelligences urges viewers to reconsider their relationship with the environment and embrace a deeper understanding of the complex connections that bind us to the living world. The exhibition serves as both a catalyst for reflection and an invitation to reimagine our roles within the vast and interconnected tapestry of life on Earth.

Curator: Jiabao Li

Exhibiting artists:

Sputniko! & Crow

Aki Inomata & Dog & Hermit Crab

Jiabao Li & Hawaiian Bobtail Squid & Mice

Virginia L. Montgomery & Lunar Moth

Kathy High & Mouse

Leslie and Gal & Birds

Brad Hakes & Spiders

Rachel Boutin & Cat

Amanda Miller & Dog

Channing Lester & Mycelium