Exploring Interspecies Intelligence: Insights from "The Shape of a Circle in the Mind of a Fish"
Unveiling Universal Wisdom Through Diverse Perspectives
The Genesis of "The Fish": A Pufferfish's Geometric Mastery
In 2018, the genesis of this expansive project lay in the observation of a pufferfish's remarkable ability to create intricate circular patterns on the ocean floor, reminiscent of terrestrial crop circles. This natural spectacle, captured in a BBC documentary, sparked profound questions for Pietroiusti and Ramos. They pondered how such marine creatures conceptualize and execute such complex geometry, the implications of this knowledge for our understanding of nature, and how it might reframe human perceptions of intelligence. This captivating ritual served as a powerful springboard for their collaborative research.
A Collaborative Journey: Bridging Disciplines and Minds
Drawing inspiration from the pufferfish's enigmatic artistry, the curators launched "The Shape of a Circle in the Mind of a Fish" program, active from 2019 to 2025 at London's Serpentine Galleries. This long-term initiative brought together a diverse assembly of artists, scientists, technologists, and environmentalists from various cities. Their collective mission was to probe the subtle and often overlooked connections between human, animal, plant, mineral, fungal, and artificial forms of consciousness and intellect.
A Deep-Seated Partnership: The Evolution of a Shared Vision
Filipa Ramos reflected on her enduring collaboration with Lucia Pietroiusti, describing it as a "long family affair." Their professional relationship blossomed from shared academic experiences, ultimately leading to Ramos's involvement in the Serpentine Gallery's General Ecology program, which Pietroiusti curated. Their shared conversations, spanning art, ecology, metaphysics, and various life forms, solidified a belief that exhibitions and public platforms could evolve into dynamic spaces for collective knowledge practice and collaborative learning.
Embracing Interdisciplinary Dialogue: Beyond Anthropocentric Views
Throughout the symposiums organized under "The Fish" program, a wide array of practitioners, including artists, biologists, technologists, and even a dolphin cognition researcher, converged to exchange insights. Early discussions centered on the concept of language, with subsequent sessions exploring themes of connection and existence through a "more-than-human" lens, pushing participants to consider perspectives beyond human-centric frameworks.
Redefining Expertise: Knowledge as a Fluid Exchange
Ramos noted a significant shift in her understanding of expertise, moving away from a singular, authoritative perspective. When no single species or discipline dominated the discourse, expertise began to manifest as a fluid exchange of understanding. She observed that knowledge acquisition, especially concerning other life forms or natural phenomena, inherently involves acknowledging the limitations of human comprehension. This perspective emphasizes that other beings perceive, communicate, and transform the world through forms of intelligence that may be partially or entirely inaccessible to us.
Communication Beyond Translation: Proximity and Mystery
A fundamental realization emerged regarding communication: it is not merely about achieving equivalence or direct translation. Instead, Ramos highlighted its deeper dimensions, such as proximity, rhythm, atmosphere, mutual exchange, co-presence, and opacity. This implies that what remains unexplained or untranslatable can be as significant, if not more so, than what is readily understood, fostering an appreciation for the inherent mystery in interspecies interactions.
Navigating the Edges of Understanding: Respect and Awe
Pietroiusti further elaborated on the implications of understanding the limits of human knowledge, posing the critical question: "How do we behave when we do not understand other beings?" She drew parallels to relational dilemmas within our own species, where responses to misunderstanding can be complex. This line of inquiry advocates for forms of relating that prioritize respect and a sense of mystery over judgment, empathy, or a desire for mastery. "The Fish" program, through its discussions and workshops, championed non-anthropocentric development models, challenging fast-paced growth narratives that often prioritize economic gains above all else. Participants engaged in practices such as listening to plants, contemplating with snails, observing soil, composting, dreaming, and reimagining technology as primitive expressions of intelligence. These activities underscored a rejection of efficiency and immediacy, encouraging engagement with processes that transcend the hurried pace of human intentionality.
Future Horizons: Bergen Assembly 2028 and Alternative Technologies
The "Shape of a Circle in the Mind of a Fish" concluded in 2025 with the publication of a book documenting its rich tapestry of ideas and dialogues. However, Pietroiusti and Ramos's collaborative journey continues as conveners for the Bergen Assembly 2028 in Norway, where they will further explore sustainable futures. Their focus extends to technologies in a broad sense, encompassing not just digital tools but also ancient, vernacular, embodied, and cosmological practices. Mapping, divination, meteorology, storytelling, navigation, healing, and poetic expressions are all viewed as technologies—ways of sensing, transmitting, and ultimately shaping worlds. Ramos expresses a growing interest in knowledge forms that do not promise control, like forecasting, which acknowledges uncertainty, or remembering, which serves as a tool for imagining alternative futures rather than merely preserving the past. This approach emphasizes that creation is not solely about producing objects but about fostering deeper relationships with materials, environments, and other living entities.