This October sees the international debut of Unmasking Nature by AlanJames Burns, presented at Luftanje Scena Ribnjak in Zagreb, Croatia, and 180° Laboratory for Innovative Art Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria. Supported by the European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists (EFFEA) and Culture Ireland, this work explores the connections between nature, biodiversity and neurodiversity.

Across both festival locations, AlanJames Burns presents ‘Stimming with Nature’ an audiovisual artwork made with artist Emma Mohan O’Grady, alongside installations made from ethically foraged natural materials. Responding to the environments encountered in Croatia and Bulgaria, Alan undertakes site-specific sensory foraging, creating collections of natural objects for audiences to explore and interact with through touch. These works explore the capacity of nature’s textures and forms to act as tactile aids for grounding & sensory regulation. 

At the heart of Unmasking Nature is a question: What does it mean to be neurodivergent in nature? Through texture, pattern, movement and sensory experience, the work considers how nature can provide tactile tools for grounding and sensory regulation, while drawing parallels between the resilience of ecosystems and the diverse ways people experience and move through the world.

Neurodiversity is biodiversity, and both thrive with the freedom to grow.

Tackling eco-ableism by opening up conversations around access, inclusion and climate action through participatory arts practice, Unmasking Nature connects audiences across Europe with the vibrancy of both natural and human diversity.