Immersions : The Art of Nature

A feather never falls like a stone; it swirls silently with the wind, playing with gravity. Falling feathers dance to the rhythm of harmonious, peaceful music, unaware of their final destination. Immersions offers eternal life to these brilliantly ordered feathers. As a Perpetuum mobile, they symbolize the variety, fragility, and diversity of nature, calling out for respect, restoration, and protection. Immersions has a strong message: 'let's not destroy what keeps us alive'. If we don't do it, who will? If we don't do it now, when? If we don't do it together, how?

Value is in the eye of the beholder

From the moment I stepped into Immersions, the exhibition by visual artist Florence Coenraets at the Spazio Nobile Gallery in Brussels, I felt an immediate sense of connection. Her artwork captivates, challenging our perceptions of nature and questioning the bonds we share with the world around us. What lies beneath and beyond the feathers?

Birds of a Feather
Today, there are approximately 11.000 bird species soaring across the skies of our planet. From the highest peaks to the vast oceans and deserts, birds are the masters of the universe, embodying a sense of freedom. The link between birds and their ancestors—the dinosaurs—can be hard to grasp in our modern world.

In the dazzling, awe-inspiring history of life on Earth, we often forget the deep interconnection that binds all species, ourselves included, within the web of life. We may not weave this web, but we are undoubtedly a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. In this sense, all species are birds of a feather.

Renaissance - Re-Birth - of Natural Consciousness
Birds are incredibly beautiful, adorned with a stunning variety of feathers and colors that are almost impossible to describe in words. Their plumage is fascinating, revealing how intricately everything in nature is interconnected. Birds have wing feathers that enable flight, tail feathers for steering, and contour feathers that cover their bodies. Beneath these, they also have semi-plumes and down feathers, often hidden under the outer layers. The smallest of all are the filoplumes, which function similarly to mammal whiskers by helping birds sense the position of their contour feathers. Bristle plumes, on the other hand, protect their eyes and face.

It’s important to note that bird feathers are dead structures and cannot repair themselves once damaged. This is why birds shed their old feathers every year, growing a new set in order to maintain a healthy, functional coat — a critical factor for survival. Like a Swiss watch, every part of a bird's anatomy, both internal and external, plays an essential role in its life and survival. In the broader web of life, every species is vital, not just for the survival of birds, but for humans as well. Nature is existential. Without healthy ecosystems, rich with a variety of interconnected species, we cannot thrive or even survive. The water we drink, the air we breathe, the food we eat, our health, and even our enjoyment all depend on the vibrancy of natural ecosystems

And yet, these ecosystems are under threat. We are witnessing the silent collapse of our planet. Climate change and biodiversity loss impact everyone, though indigenous peoples, who have contributed least to these crises, suffer the most. It is time for change. Time for the Re-Birth, the renaissance, of our ecological consciousness. It is time to shift from ego to eco, to transform the adage ‘me and now’ into ‘us and tomorrow.’ And if we have to finance change, we have to change finance.

Perfect Imperfections
We must give nature the space it deserves, allowing ecosystems and species, in all their perfect imperfections, to exist and thrive. At the same time, we must redefine their true value. Consider this: the worth of a diamond far exceeds that of a bucket of water, and even the smallest fragment of a diamond is more valuable. But a diamond cannot save a life; a bucket of water can. Similarly, the materials for Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers cost around 300 euros, yet its value exceeds 20 million euros. Why? Because we have determined its value. The Taj Mahal, too, could easily be replaced by skyscrapers if we didn’t assign it such great worth.

Now, ask yourself: what is the value of a forest (or a feather)? The true value of a forest lies not in its timber, but in the ‘ecosystem services’ it provides — oxygen, water purification, climate regulation, and much more. These services are irreplaceable, and their worth extends far beyond what we can measure in mere economic terms.

What feathers can tell
“The most dangerous worldview is the worldview of those who have not viewed the world,” said Edward O. Wilson, one of the greatest scientists of our time. We must rediscover the ability to truly see, to feel, and to smell the world around us. It’s time to reconnect with nature—to look beyond the surface and perceive the intricate web that sustains us all.

Why don’t we learn from the birds? Their bird’s-eye view helps them find their way home, over and over again, while also revealing the opportunities that arise from working together. The ingenious design of feathers creates wings, and with these wings, I intend to fly. Are you with me?

Think globally, act locally and change personally!

Ignace Schops

Green Nobel laureate - Goldman Environmental Prize, Author of the book ‘Saved by the Tree Frog’