Seminar Skog vil seia samfunn

Organized to coincide with the launch of Skog vil seia samfunn (Forest Means Society), this seminar at the House of Literature in Bergen will feature a reading by the poet Eira Søyseth – whose poem ‘Vi, med røttene/knudrete forbundet’ (We, with the Roots/Knotted Association) responds to the art project – followed by a presentation on the evolution of forests, from folkloric landscapes in farming communities to modern tree plantations, by cultural-studies professor Kyrre Kverdokk. Philosopher Jørgen Pedersen will then discuss nature loss, conservation and global justice before the speakers are joined by the artist Randi Nygård for a panel discussion.

Installed in the Kronstad area of Bergen near the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Skog vil seia samfunn was inspired by Japanese ecologist and botanist Akira Miyawaki’s concept of planting a variety of native tree specimens close together to create mini forests in urban spaces. Also known as ‘pocket forests’, these micro-habitats purify the air, reduce noise, bind carbon and attract a rich diversity of wildlife and insects.

For the duration of the project, a programme of thematically related public events will be held with participants from a range of fields, including art, biology, cultural science and philosophy.

Kyrre Kverndokk is a professor of cultural studies at the University of Bergen. Supported by the Research Council of Norway, he leads the research project ‘Gardening the Globe: Historicizing the Anthropocene through the Production of Socio-Nature in Scandinavia (1750–2020)’, which examines the impact of the commercial exploitation of nature. Kverndokk has also studied how Norwegian folk beliefs are linked to our understanding of landscape.

Jørgen Pedersen is a professor of practical philosophy at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences where he teaches ethics, sustainability and social responsibility. He received his doctorate from the Department of Philosophy at the University of Bergen with a thesis on Jürgen Habermas. Concerned with economic inequality and justice both nationally and globally, Pedersen’s work investigates the relationship between property rights and taxes, and the fair distribution of the burdens caused by the climate crisis. His publications include Rettferdig fordeling og rettferdig skatt (2019).