Natural Contract Lab

Natural Contract Lab is a transdisciplinary artistic group and practice that aims to imagine systemic dialogue with bodies of water undergoing deep ecological transformation. With the goal of fabricating new forms of justice, they have co-created an artistic Protocol of Reciprocal Care weaving together the practices of restorative justice, rights of rivers, environmental grief, sensory ecoscenography, and somatic scores. NCL is a body of care that invites others to moments of walking-with the river, water mourning circles, collective gestures of care, Agoras, river schools, and other actions that emerge in collaboration with the fish, people, clay, plants, and other water beings.

Natural Contract Lab was initiated by Maria Lucia Cruz Correia, in ongoing co-creation with a transdisciplinary group, including the Zenne river (ally and companion), vinny jones (sensory scenography/dramaturgy), Brunilda Pali (restorative justice), Lode Vranken (design/philosophy) and Margarida Mendes (research/sonic guidance).

SZenne collaborations: Saartje Monden (River guardian Pedagogies), Flore Herman (Artistic assistant/mediator), Matteo Deblasio (river vessel/clay mediator), Marzia Dalfini (walking-with costume design) and Thessa Kruger (Intern).