This project explores the intricate and reciprocal relationship between humans and the natural environment. It is inspired by a moment of quiet observation—a young tree subtly supported by human-made structures in a local park—which symbolically encapsulates the intertwined destinies of both realms. This encounter prompts a critical enquiry into how human civilisation both relies on and influences the natural world, and conversely, how nature’s inherent dynamism reciprocally shapes human existence.

At its core, the research challenges the conventional dichotomy that positions nature as a passive backdrop to human activity. Instead, it argues for a nuanced perspective in which human and natural systems are mutually constitutive. The project draws on interdisciplinary insights from environmental science, ecology, and art theory to propose that our everyday interactions with the natural world are embedded in complex, layered relationships that often escape our notice.

By interrogating the pervasive impact of human activity on ecological systems, as well as recognising nature’s capacity for resilience and renewal, the project invites viewers to reconsider prevailing narratives around climate change and sustainability. It calls for a re-evaluation of our role within the biosphere—advocating for a more balanced, integrative approach that acknowledges the depth and dynamism of human–nature interdependence.