Abstract

Full Paper. Session: Humans and NonHumans / Human Nonhuman Encounters and Distractions

Keywords: Interspecies communication, queer, nonhumans, humans, contraceptive pills

This research aims to investigate how can human-nonhuman encounters be understood as queer communication. In the artworks Wombs (2018-19), the artist Margherita Pevere promoted encounters between her body and nonhuman beings, while administrating contraceptive hormones. The pills introduce discussions on biological, sexual, and social issues, which are framed by queer studies.

In the times of Anthropocene, with global pandemic and climate change, it is necessary to investigate narratives that show respect and accountability for all forms of life. In this scenario, the research for interspecies communication reveals other ways to promote human-nonhuman encounters that overcome a past of human mastery over nonhumans. This research analyzes how interspecies communication can be conceived beyond language. Moreover, it also analyzes how those communications can be understood as queer. The source of investigation is the series of artworks Wombs (2018-2019), by Margherita Pevere. The artist researched for bonds between her body on hormones, from taking birth control pills, and two different species, bacteria (asexual) and slug (hermaphrodite). The queer communication in Wombs talks about disrupting the opposition nature/culture and man/woman in interspecies encounters and articulates more equalitarian narratives that are accountable for human actions.

• Natacha Lamounier is an artist and researcher in Media Arts with a multidisciplinary background. She holds a MA in Arts from an Erasmus mobility program at the Universities of Krems (Austria), Aalborg (Denmark), and Lodz (Poland). She has BA degrees in Materials Engineering from the Federal Center for Technological Education of Minas Gerais (Brazil) and in Fashion Design at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (Brazil). Natacha’s main research areas are feminist-queer theories, interspecies communication, and interactions human-machine in wearable technology. In her art practices, she uses diverse skills, such as painting, collage, uncanny materials, and electronics. She lives currently in Denmark. https://www.linkedin.com/in/natacha-lamounier-41a851115