Whispers from Tides and Forests at Kunsthaus Baselland in Basel
Kunsthaus Baselland presents a sweeping group exhibition curated by Ines Goldbach that explores delicate new narratives for an era marked by environmental and global upheaval. Titled Whispers from Tides and Forests, the presentation brings together an international roster of artists whose work addresses the fragile intersections between human life, nature, time, and space.
Running through August 17, 2025, the exhibition moves away from apocalyptic rhetoric to examine quiet tones, resilience, and a considerate coexistence with the natural world.
Exploring Vulnerability and Resilience in Contemporary Art
Occupying the institution's expansive galleries in the Dreispitz district, the exhibition features works by Caroline Bachmann, Johanna Calle, Lena Laguna Diel, Abi Palmer, Nohemí Pérez, Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa, Belén Rodríguez, Ana Silva, Julia Steiner, Surma, and Liu Yujia. Spanning media from large-scale charcoal drawings and copper-plated botanicals to multi-channel video installations and sound sculptures, the participating creators reflect on landscapes under threat from South America to Europe.
Visitors navigating the rooms encounter deeply personal and ecological responses to climate change, habitat loss, and displacement. Nohemí Pérez contributes panoramic drawings depicting threatened forests and rivers, occasionally punctuated by vibrant touches of color that signal a persistent attempt to rescue fragile fragments from extinction. Nearby, local practitioner Julia Steiner presents whispering systems, a field-like installation of delicate, copper-plated grass structures that immortalize ephemeral organic lines through an electroplating process.
The exhibition also highlights process-driven explorations, such as Lena Laguna Diel’s cyanotype prints capturing hidden aquatic and nocturnal plant life, and Abi Palmer’s intimate video work filmed during periods of isolation. Further contributions by Ana Silva, Liu Yujia, Surma, Johanna Calle, Caroline Bachmann, Belén Rodríguez, and Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa expand the dialogue into themes of memory, colonial exploitation, sound as resistance, and the enduring vitality of forest ecosystems.
To plan your visit and discover more contemporary art highlights across the city, explore Musemap (musemap.art). You can also browse upcoming exhibitions on the whats-on exhibitions guide or view the full museums list.
