Stepping Softly on the Earth: Group Exhibition at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art

"Stepping Softly on the Earth" is a fascinating exhibition currently at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, running until April 14, 2024. Curated by Irene Aristizábal and Kinnari Saraiya, it features works from 20 artists, such as Leonel Vásquez, Cian Dayrit, Marwa Arsanios, Solmaz Daryani, and Tizintizwa. The show critiques human-centered perspectives, emphasizing our bond with nature and decolonial viewpoints. Vásquez's installation, Templo del agua, río Tyne (2023), uses rocks and purified water from the River Tyne to create a sound temple. Dayrit's tapestries tackle colonial mapping and dam protests in the Philippines, while Arsanios's film explores land ownership in Lebanon. Daryani’s ongoing project addresses Lake Urmia's drying up in Iran, and Tizintizwa’s piece illustrates apple harvesters in the Atlas Mountains. This exhibition is part of a research initiative named 'Cosmovisions on Land and Entangled Futures,' which included residencies in Spain and Colombia.