The group exhibition "Earthly Communities" invites visitors to reflect on the profound consequences of European colonisation of the indigenous territories of Abya Yala* since the 15th century. Through multimedia works, eleven international artists explore the traces of colonial intervention on the environment and society. The exhibition focuses on various areas: agriculture, urban planning, archaeology – as well as extractive processes that continue to cause and reinforce profound ecological and social inequalities to this day. Inspired by Achille Mbembe's vision of an “earthly community”, the exhibition is an invitation to adopt a reparative attitude that includes humans, animals, plants, minerals and spiritual entities alike. The works question the Western conception of “nature” and open up spaces for alternative perspectives, in which indigenous resistance, sustainable knowledge and a lived connection to the earth become visible. Local references – such as a return to ancient knowledge in South Tyrol – create a dialogue between global experiences and regional responsibilities. Earthly Communities thus artistically connects social and ecological justice.

* Abya Yala is an indigenous term for Latin America which, from a decolonial perspective, symbolises the living earth and cultural self-determination.