7. Art and Artificial Intelligence speaking for Nature with Nonhuman Nonsense

Nonhuman Nonsense is a research-driven art and design collective working in the realm of social dreaming and world-making. Their projects engage with the nonhuman: animals, objects, ecology, technology, and the spectres between and beyond categories. Nonhuman Nonsense sees nonsense as an antidote to "common sense" – embracing paradoxical stories to explore the ethical and metaphysical layers of our relationship with the (nonhuman) world.  In this conversation with Leo Fidjeland and Linnea Våglund of Nonhuman Nonsense we discuss the role of art in speaking for nature and how the arts may provide a bridge in troubled times: widening the field and deepening conversations on ethical and burning issues beyond polarized views. We focus on the recent project Council of Forest, a forum where nonhuman entities supported by AI deliberate on the fate of their shared home in the north of Sweden, the Vindelälven-Juhttátahkka Biosphere reserve. You hear from Salmon, Reindeer, Pine and Wind turbine as they eloquently describe their perspectives on the green transition. Through the project, Nonhuman Nonsense are asking if AI can embody the wisdom of a tree, a river or a reindeer herd? What does it mean to act in the forest's best interest? And what happens if we take nonhuman voices seriously? We also touch upon Nonhuman Nonsenes interplanetary campaign, recognising the legal personhood of Mars and Martians.   Nonhuman Nonsense: https://nonhuman-nonsense.com/about  Council of Forest: https://council-of-forest.com/ Planetary Personhood, a universal declaration of Martian rights https://planetarypersonhood.com/