Influenced by the profound consequences that natural disasters, climate change, and human impact has on our planet, Nature is Greater Than Us is an ongoing experimental art research project investigating and responding to people’s personal stories who have been recently affected by environmental destruction in disasters around the world.
The research began with interviews of people who were personally involved in specific events, for example the Porto Alegre floods in Brazil and the Los Angeles fires in the USA. The project founder Bruna Souza found it concerning that family members living in both Porto Alegre and Los Angeles were affected by "natural" disasters within 6 months from each other; very different locations around the world, and very different types of disasters, but nonetheless similar destructive experiences affecting millions of people.
The curiosity to learn more was sparked: about what causes these situations, what human actions contribute to it, how we cope with the disasters (mentally, physically, economically), is there anything we can do to prevent these situations. The more Bruna investigated, the more questions arose.
Adopting a mixed-media approach for art creation, the conversations with people experiencing these disasters are translated into multiple formats: audio recordings, photographs, message transcripts, illustrations, paintings, found objects, and other mediums.
The research aims to investigate the context around these events, consult professional opinions with politicians & climate specialists, question humanity’s role & relationship to nature, consider potential action that can be taken, and contemplate where we go from here. The project is intended to be an open space for experimentation in how these stories can be translated into art.
The project is actively ongoing, with intended future exhibitions and collaborations welcome. If you're curious to join or to learn more about the project, please get in touch with Bruna via the contact page.
Pop-up Exhibitions
The work began unfolding in a pop-up space at Treehouse NDSM over the summer of 2025, inviting artists and the public to engage with the multimedia work as it developed. Other artists were invited to collaborate in the pop-up over 3 months, contributing their own ideas, research and art to enrich the project. The space doubled as a research container at the same time as an exhibition space, developing as the project progresses. At the end of every month, an exhibition day took place sharing the project's progress and a special program. Although visitors were welcome into the space throughout the duration of the 3 months.
Pop-up Location
Pop-up Studio 57E4
TREEHOUSE NDSM
T.T. NEVERITAWEG 55-57
1033 WB AMSTERDAM
TREEHOUSE NDSM
T.T. NEVERITAWEG 55-57
1033 WB AMSTERDAM
Pop-up Exhibition Days
SUNDAY JUNE 1ST, 2025
SATURDAY JUNE 28th, 2025
SATURDAY JULY 26th, 2025