Sjoerd de Jong

I am a 25-year-old researcher and artist with a BA in spatial design from the Willem de Kooning academy in Rotterdam. Currently, I am pursuing the Master Interior Research + Design (MIARD) at the Piet Zwart Institute.

As an inhabitant of landscapes, I strive for an interspecies democracy and a redefinition of ecological thought. My work explores how interspecies relationships are formed in human-dominated landscapes and aims to break the boundaries between species.

My architectural an artistic focus is on redesigning and redefining ecologies and defending the non-human actors within these environments. I examine the existing definitions and unwritten rules of ecology and "wilderness." My vision on landscapes is that they operate within rules, mindsets and norms, whether one is inside or outside them. This perspective allows me to investigate how actors behave, migrate, listen, and coexist within landscapes, which are constantly pressured by conflicting agendas and inhabitants.

My interest lies in understanding interspecies relationships and creating a better perception of our contemporary life. As a researcher and artist, my role is to uncover and narrate untold stories, critically examine (my personal) history, and reflect on my position in society.

My research includes ecological, political, philosophical, historical and personal dimensions. I view history as the shadow of ourselves and our national and colonial inheritance. By exploring the intersections between the human body, created artifacts, existing landscapes, and videography, I aim to cherish a more democratic and open-minded world.