ALL MY RELATIONS – ECOCAMP
All My Relations is an initiative exploring the intersections of performative and pedagogical practices with ecological awareness. Founded by Esa Kirkkopelto, Sodja Lotker, and Steinunn Knúts-Önnudóttir, the Ecocamp provides a platform for artists and interdisciplinary researchers to share practices, reflect, and collectively imagine alternative futures. It fosters a porous, collaborative space where participants engage with ecological thinking—not just as an abstract concept, but as a lived, felt, and shared experience.
The Ecocamp is jointly organized by Malmö Theatre Academy (Lund University), Agenda 2030 Graduate School (Lund University), and Gylleboverket, a platform for art and resilience located in the Scania countryside. Gylleboverket provides a unique environment where participants can step away from the demands of everyday life, connect with the landscape, and cultivate a shared experience of ecological awareness. The workshops combine artistic research, eco-pedagogy, and performative practices, emphasizing relationality, embodied knowledge, and the creative potential of interdisciplinary exchange.
Each edition takes place over three days, during which participants engage in collective research, discussions, and practical exercises aimed at exploring the ecological potential of performance and performativity. The camp invites participants to eat locally grown food, balance concentration with relaxation, and develop a deeper sense of connectedness with each other and the environment.
To date, All My Relations has been held three times, each edition building on previous experiences and further developing the exploration of performance, sustainability, and ecological awareness.
Editions
Edition 1: September, 2022
Eco-Pedagogy, Self-Cultivation, and Transformative Performance Practices
The first All My Relations workshop took place, at Gylleboverket, bringing together almost 30 international participants from fields such as contemporary performance, artistic research, education, urban design, and ecological activism. The event explored how art and performance can foster mindset shifts toward a more sustainable lifestyle.
Edition 2: September, 2023
Ecological Co-Learning, Existential Sustainability, and Transformative Performance Practices
The second edition was held at Gylleboverket and the nearby Lilla Skräddaröd Permaculture Farm. This gathering examined the ecological potential of performance, performativity, and eco-pedagogy, drawing inspiration from biologist Lynn Margulis’ idea that “nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of symbiosis.” The workshop focused on individual and collective transformation through embodied sensibility, imagination, and the notion of an extended ecological self.
As in the first edition, Gylleboverket, represented by Etta Säfve and Jona Elfdahl, hosted the event. The organizing team also included Aune Kallinen, professor at Theatre Academy – Uniarts Helsinki; Steinunn Knúts-Önnudóttir, PhD student at Malmö Theatre Academy and member of Agenda 2030 Graduate School; and Sofie Lebech, associate professor at Malmö Theatre Academy.
Edition 3: September, 2024
Relational Practices, Ecological Awareness, and More-Than-Human Encounters
The third edition took place in 2024, deepening the inquiry into relational practices and ecological transformation. This intensive three-day laboratory invited artists and interdisciplinary researchers to explore more-than-human encounters, existential resilience, and sustainable development through performative and artistic research. The workshop aimed to bridge art, research, and everyday ecological engagement, fostering a holistic understanding of corporality, imagination, and interconnectivity.
As in the previous editions, Gylleboverket, with Etta Säfve and Jona Elfdahl, hosted the workshop. The organizing team consisted of Aune Kallinen (Theatre Academy – Uniarts Helsinki), Steinunn Knúts-Önnudóttir (Malmö Theatre Academy, Agenda 2030 Graduate School), and Sofie Lebech (Malmö Theatre Academy).
Publication in Matter
Reflections and insights from these workshops have been published in Matter, the online journal for artistic research at Malmö Theatre Academy, offering a deeper look into the experiences and methodologies explored in the All My Relations Ecocamps.
