Hi, I’m Dana :)
I am obsessed with waste and trash.
My practice is growing roots at the intersection of art, ecology, and education—cultivating knowledge in all its dimensions. It is situated in deep time. This is where place and time are inseparable–refusing a linear division between past, present, and future—an interconnected way of living which comes with responsibilities and considerable obligations as stewards of the land for future generations.
Welcome to this Mycelial portfolio
Fungi have been teaching me how as an artistic researcher and educator I can build a socially engaged practice that embraces reciprocity and unravels dominant knowledge systems.
They are experts in decomposition—transforming what can be considered waste into something that thrives. They contribute symbiotically within complex ecosystems; this is what I aspire to in my practice. I hope to emulate mycelial networks; utilising hidden potential, working with waste, building reciprocal relationships that honour a multitude of perspectives.
Below you can explore some of my recent work, choose your own adventure. Enjoy the nonlinear journey :)
Fungal Research
While participating in the International Artist Educator Masters program at ArtEZ, I began a research quest—deliberately exploring non‑dominant ways of knowing: more‑than‑human, queer, decolonial, mythical, magical, and neuro-spicy—building an artistic practice grounded in collective ways of being.
My curiosity continues, seeking understanding of the many dimensions of wild intelligence: how we (humans) can cultivate mutualistic relations and diversify the ways we sense, make, and learn.
Darna Residency
Working site-specific in Tangier for three months with the beautiful organisation, Darna allowed me to experiment with mycelial ways of researching in a new context.
Building a community garden with Darna and Rosa Smits, growing herbs for tea in their restaurant and utilizing materials from their farm.
An artistic research practice focused on following creative & emotional intuition—exploring other ways of knowing that deepen relationships between self and more-than-human.
Orientation and grounding practices at the Malabata Wetland with Bailey Flinn; exploring weekly gestures of gratitude for the landscape.
Archiving
I naturally gravitate towards visualising and communicating process, data, and stories.
Artifacts collected and assembled through out the artistic research process to understand wild intelligence in Arnhem & Tangier.
Tinkering with soil chromatography as a way to facilitate collective, creative interpretations of human relationships to soil.
A virtual space developed to facilitate the sharing of resources—building a hive mind.
Digging in the trash for wasted bags to use as material for wild-fringey garments for the women of Darna’s restaurant and weaving studio to wear in a parade.
The process of befriending Zizou, a special donkey in Tangier who illuminated new dimensions of ethics regarding inter-species care.
More Than Human
My curiosities are rooted in how we as humans can repair and rethink our dominant positions within ecosystems—critically considering our relationship to other beings.