El Lazo, 2023

« We are complementary expressions of the same living, collective and cyclical being, Pachamama. » Ilona Suran

This is a piece about restoring our relationship with our planet, transforming one that has become so conflicted to rediscovering the profound, ancestral bond we once held.

In ancient philosophies and indigenous beliefs, humans are recognised as integral threads intricately woven into the complex tapestry of interconnected beings within the cosmos. This understanding revolves around the harmonious interplay of the fundamental four elements, in some cultures, five —earth, water, fire, air and ether. Through these elements, they navigate and nurture their deep-rooted bond with the natural world. The Earth is seen as a living being, deserving of respect and care, as she is the foundation and origin of our existence - the sacred matrix from which all life emerges. Thereby, Nature is not considered to be external to the human but it is the human - Human is Nature.

In Western modernity, this has been forgotten. The deep reverence for our planet has often been overshadowed, as it has been reduced to a commodity, a marketable resource, ultimately « transforming Nature into a mere ’environment,' a simple setting in the center of which man, who proclaims himself ‘master and possessor’, is enthroned ». François Ost

This is a call to recognising our interdependence with the Earth and all living beings, the need for consciously cultivating this bond, taking responsibility as stewards of the natural world and fostering a more sustainable coexistence.

Shot & edited by Imogen Hope
IH remix of Witness by Lyra Pramuk