Among the crackling trees, within a glimmering wave coated by the reflective moon, or amid the emerald vastness of a rice field, there exists an uncontrollable force that shapes nature’s energy and power. In every myth, religion, and belief, the concept of nature is highlighted as a symbol of coming into being. They serve to help us understand how it was formed as we continue to adapt and navigate through our surroundings by constructing our own landscape.

 

But how much of it is left untouched?

What happens when all of nature is occupied with concrete boxes rising in the fields?

 

Through a mirror that reflects back a moment in which we inhabit nature, or a towering structure protecting the sacredness of a site — artists in Nirmana use art as a mutation of our environment to reveal the issues it is faced with in hopes of salvaging what could forever be lost. Yoka Sara reconnects us to nature by constructing a musical instrument, allowing the universal vibration to pass through. Nano Uhero weaves bamboo into a place of worship, creating a haven to restore balance in the midst of destruction. From satirical imitations to philosophical studies of nature, each work aims to foster greater empathy and connection to our natural world. It is an art that grows and develops in various forms to remind us that the first step towards rebuilding is a refusal of the false promises used everywhere to idealise an insatiable need to commercialise, transforming its surrounding into a space where hope is found once more.