Nature, Culture,
and Community.
Tim Collins and Reiko Goto: Environmental Artists.
Bridging Art and Ecology
Based in Glasgow, Tim Collins and Reiko Goto are internationally recognized for their socially engaged environmental art. Working since 1985 in locations such as San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and Glasgow, their practice emphasizes empathic relationships with living systems. Through interdisciplinary collaborations and projects like “Deep Mapping Lough Boora Sculpture Park”, they explore ecological systems, cultural histories, and the human experience within the commons.
Using innovative tools like the HAKOTO instrument, which translates the unseen processes of trees into sound, they open new dialogues about how we perceive and interact with the environment. Their practice, which encompasses artworks, videos, exhibitions, seminars, workshops, and publications, seeks to create both artistic expression and public engagement. Ultimately, their work aims to inspire new forms of ecological understanding and responsibility, as evidenced by their contributions to platforms like the Centre for Nature in Cities.
Our Approach:
Our Approach: Bridging Art and Ecology
At Collins & Goto Studio, we adopt an ecosystem-centric approach to our art practice. We believe in the power of art to foster dialogue, deepen understanding, and inspire action around ecological and social issues. Our work is characterized by:
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: We collaborate with scientists, philosophers, technologists, and community members to explore the intersections between human culture and natural ecosystems.
- Empathic Engagement: We strive to create art that fosters empathic relationships with more-than-human entities, such as plants, animals, and entire ecosystems, encouraging viewers to reconsider their connection to the natural world.
- Innovative Methodologies: From deep mapping techniques that uncover hidden ecological and cultural layers to using instruments like the HAKOTO to measure photosynthesis in peat bogs, we employ a variety of methods that combine scientific inquiry with artistic expression.
- Public Engagement: We bring our work into public spaces, museums, and communities, creating opportunities for reflection, dialogue, and direct interaction with our artworks.
Featured Projects
Hakoto
The Hakoto Project, by Tim Collins and Reiko Goto, merges art, ecology, and technology. Central to the project is the HAKOTO instrument, which measures photosynthesis and transpiration in sphagnum moss on peat bogs, translating these processes into sound. This creates a sensory bridge between human perception and plant life.
The project explores the “otherness” of Irish bogs, highlighting their ecological roles and cultural significance while fostering dialogue about our relationship with nature in the context of environmental change.
Plein Air
The Plein Air project explores plant consciousness through an interdisciplinary approach blending the arts and sciences. Developed by Reiko Goto, the Plein Air instrument enables us to “hear” the physiological responses of trees, raising questions about how we understand and value the natural world. This work engages with ecofeminist ideas, critiquing the instrumental use of nature and promoting a more ethical, empathetic relationship with the environment.
Through collaboration with scientists, Plein Air seeks to shift societal attitudes toward the generative power of trees, emphasizing the potential of art to inspire deeper ecological awareness.
Future Forest in Scotland
The Future Forest project in Scotland showcases Tim Collins and Reiko Goto’s dedication to environmental art and ecological restoration. This long-term initiative addresses the complexities of forest management, biodiversity, and cultural identity in the face of climate change. Through creative interventions, public installations, and interdisciplinary collaborations, the project envisions sustainable futures for Scotland’s ancient woodlands.
Future Forest fosters dialogue among artists, scientists, policymakers, and local communities, using art to visualize and challenge our environmental responsibilities. It reimagines stewardship of the natural world and explores new ways to connect with the land and its living systems.
Publications
Tim Collins and Reiko Goto are widely published in environmental art and ecology, with numerous articles, book chapters, and essays that contribute to ongoing dialogues in the field. Explore their publications to delve deeper into the theories and practices that shape their work.