Composing for Multispecies Survival in Dark Times

What kind of life is possible in the aftermath of extinctions and other environmental crises? In collaboration with Praemium Erasmianum Foundation, the Nieuwe Instituut is hosting an in-depth programme to kick off the opening of the exhibition FUNGI: Anarchist Designers, curated by anthropologist Anna Tsing and artist/designer Feifei Zhou. This programme will feature a Q&A discussion with Erasmus Prize 2025 laureate, and famed feminist and philosopher, Donna Haraway alongside Anna Tsing, and hosted by philosopher Rosi Braidotti.

Together, they will search for the ‘ghosts’ of ‘disappeared beings’ to help us stay strong during dark times. Haraway and Tsing recognise the need for stories and tools to help us cope with the environmental, social and personal devastation we currently face. They challenge the grim narrative of the authoritarian terrorists threatening to destroy our world with tales of ‘disappeared’ human and non-human beings, whose struggles offer hope. As often happens in our own life stories, the most unlikely and diverse examples turn out to be closely related. From willow trees in Denmark to the endangered peatlands of Borneo and Papua, and even gardens, data centres and compost heaps, they show us what can survive or return after terror and destruction.

Programme

• 18.00-18.30 doors
• 18.30-19.45 Composing for Multispecies Survival in Dark Times, a conversation between Donna Haraway en Anna Tsing, moderated by Rosi Braidotti
• The festive opening of FUNGI: Anarchist Designers will follow this event, with an opportunity to see the exhibition.

Tickets

Seating in the Auditorium is limited. Once full, no more tickets will be available. Pre-sales will start through this page on 15 October 2025.

Read more

Read more about the exhibition here.
Read more about the Erasmus Prize 2025 here.