(Holding) the Thin Layer
Tears and Goosebumps as Pedagogical Companions in Un/Learning
Abstract
In this essay we unfold the textile artefact (Holding) the Thin Layer which was piloted in the second Confluence of European Water Bodies, in Venice 2024. A month later, it was part of a ceremony with environmental defenders from various advocacy groups around Lake Vättern in Sweden. The essay presents the origin story of the textile and the ceremony’s setup, reflecting on its realisation in conversation with concepts such as un/learning, the overview effect, decolonisation, and affects as pedagogical companions. We believe that pedagogical objects and practices like this can bring values and criticality to the Rights of Nature movement.
Presentato: 06 Marzo 2026 | Accettato: 26 Maggio 2026 | Pubblicato 06 Agosto 2026 | Lingua: en
Keywords Textile • Overview effect • Unlearning • Ceremony • Decolonisation • Representation • Making • Lake Vättern • Affective pedagogy • Subjectification
Copyright © 2026 Thomas Laurien, Martin Hultman. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.