Yes Naturally: How Art Saves the World

Yes Naturally is the book accompanying the art exhibition of the same name held at the Gemeentemuseum (GEM) in The Hague from 15 March to 16 August. The lavishly illustrated publication Yes Naturally presents inspiring essays and works by more than 80 artists, including Francis Alÿs, Jimmie Durham, Olafur Eliasson, Damien Hirst, Zeger Reyers, Superflex and Ai Weiwei.
What is natural? And who or what defines that, actually? Are we humans the only ones who decide this, or do plans, animals, bacteria, things and natural forces also ‘get a say’? The art exhibition Yes Naturally – How Art Saves the World shows how culture and nature can reinforce each other and in the process creates conditions for a better world. In Yes Naturally artists and thinkers challenge us to look differently at ourselves, our society and our interaction with the earth.
The publication goes deeper where the exhibition leaves off. In brief, accessible articles, philosophers, ecologists, artists and anthropologists offer us new insights into the relationship between humans and their environment. Yes Naturally features unexpected perspectives, inspires us to action and challenges routine patterns with humour. ‘This book can be read as a recipe book for ecological intelligence,’ in the words of Ine Gevers, curator and initiator of Yes Naturally.
Editors: Ine Gevers et al. | Authors: Jean Fisher, Donna Haraway, Tim Ingold, Ike Kamphof, Timothy Morton, Henk Oosterling, Luciana Parisi, Saskia Sassen, Vandana Shiva, John Thackara | Design: potvandervelden