Mia + Eric | In a Strange Place

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Mia + Eric, “In a Strange Place (still),” 2024

(courtesy of the Gallery)

How do we envision the future of our forests amid ongoing environmental and climate catastrophes? What stories do the caretakers of these vital ecosystems have to share? How can the experiences of those who care for forests inform our collective approach to environmental conservation?

Mia + Eric’s In a Strange Place (2024) is a 9-channel video installation that reflects on the labour of forest caretakers and stewards—revealing the politics of care that colours and contours the work that they do, and the relationship that they nurture with the land that they care for.

Born out of a multi-year, international research and engagement process with communities in England, Germany, and Norway, this iteration of the project is akin to a homecoming, featuring thirty caretakers from the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta, including woodlands close to Calgary.

This immersive installation sees 150 ecologists, activists, conservationists, and land keepers performing slow-motion gestures of their work in these forests—work that is both quietly aloof and yet deeply intimate. Through these improvised choreographies, forest work emerges as an embodied labour and practice that intertwines the personal connections of individuals with the natural world, reflecting our collective responsibility towards the ecosystems that we all share and inhabit.

Videographer: Benjamin Hotz

Sound Design: Kris Demeanor

Collaborative Producers: Maíra Wiener, Jenna Winter

Artistic Assistants: Maíra Wiener, Rachel Rose

Indigenous relations coordinator: Pam Beebe

In a Strange Place was originally commissioned by Matchbox (Germany), Gateshead International Festival of Theatre (England), and Arctic Arts Festival (Norway).