iyinisiwin
Iyinisiwin (eyine’sewin) is a Cree word used to describe the intersection of intelligence, knowledge, and wisdom and is also the poignant title of this experiential art piece.
Iyinisiwin is an immersive installation that seeks to challenge current perceptions, while inviting the audience to rediscover humanity’s interconnectedness within the universe.
This experience departs from the majority narrative of human exceptionalism and is rooted in Indigenous wisdom, which unveils the intelligence, knowledge, and wisdom displayed in the natural world.
Iyinisiwin invites us to embrace humility, compassion, and balance as we explore our relationship with the wisdom of the natural world.
Four Stories
The experience embarks on a cyclical voyage through four captivating stories: each story is a vision of the interconnected intelligence that spans from the farthest reaches of the cosmos to the mysterious depths of our oceans.
Compassionate Canopy
In the forest, we are transported to a magnificent neural network of mycelium, which connects the forest together. We can listen to the wisdom whispered by the ancient trees and embrace the pulsating energy and compassionate empathy of the matriarchal grandmother tree.
Through our movement we send messages to the different trees, which initiates the presence of a collective window. We become aware that if we are careful and compassionate with how we tread, we can participate in restorative ecological life.
The Ways of the Deep
The orca has long been known by Indigenous coastal communities as a powerful relative that is inextricably bound to humans. With their own language and matrilineal culture, orcas are, undeniably, one of the most fascinating and communal creatures.
The installation invites the audience to the sonic world of our relatives, the orcas. In this journey, you are welcomed to dive in to uncover the rich wisdom hidden within the depths of the ocean.
The stars are our earliest ancestors.
We are Star people
The stars are our earliest ancestors. We are all star people. The different intelligences ingrained in the fabric of the universe is calling to be explored and examined: our ability to interact with the effects of gravity; how cosmic radiation connects us to one another; and how the light from the stars connects us to our earliest ancestors.
We will be able to experience the cosmic dance of stars as we move through nebulas of space dust that share the same molecular make up as ourselves
The Skin we’re in
The octopus is one of the world’s most unique creatures in that it completely challenges majority culture’s perception of intelligence. The octopus exhibits an amazing physical intelligence as it perceives and responds without depending on what humans know to be the five necessary senses.
Perception and response are exhibited in a completely different way than in the manner of common Western-educated human understanding of perception and intelligence. Interact with the environment of the octopus to see how they react to our movements and sounds.
What People Are Saying
“Wow this is better than Ripley’s (Aquarium).”
— 6 year old boy
“they’ve captured something i didn’t know could be seen.”
— Elder
What we’re about
Technical Information
For specific information regarding the installation and the potential of licensing Iyinisiwin for your venue please reach out to us with the contact form below.
experience now
June 1 - August 30
Venue
EYEPOOL at THEMUSEUM | Kitchener, ON
EYEPOOL is THEMUSEUM’s new permanent digital immersive gallery. This 1000sq foot gallery space is equipped with 14 state-of-the-art Christie Inspire projectors that will help transport you to other worlds over and over again.
want iyinisiwin?
Interested in having Iyinisiwin at your venue or event? Even if you have a unique or small space there are ways we maximize the experience Contact us, we would love to hear from you.
Credits
James Monkman | Artist
James Monkman is an award winning Cree visual artist from treaty five territory residing in Toronto. His work spans multiple different tactile and digital mediums. James‘ passion for creating comes out of the need to tell Indigenous stories using the latest technologies to show that Indigenous ways of knowing and cosmology are necessary ideas for a thriving future.
Brian T. Moore | Artist
Brian T. Moore is an artist that creates large scale, dynamic immersive experiences. His practice involves a deep commitment to the process that create respectful and challenging outcomes. A multifaceted collaborator, Brian uses his skills to push the boundaries of a human immersive experience. Inspired by nature and our collective struggle to find balance.
Nigel Irwin | Music
Nigel Irwin is a Cree-Canadian musician, composer, and storyteller from Niagara Treaty territory, who lives in Toronto - Dish With One Spoon Territory.
Brian Vowles | Animation
Brian is a 3D Artist from Toronto. For the last twenty years he’s worked as an animator on various TV, film, and web projects.
