Over the course of March, visitors explored new forms of coexistence between humans and the more-than-human world, asking the powerful question: what if diplomacy extended beyond human interests, and began to include other species, ecosystems, and the planet?

Curated in collaboration with Yuko Hasegawa, former Director of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, the exhibition featured ideas at the intersection of art, science, and policy, selected through an international open call. By connecting Swiss-based researchers, international artists, and Japanese thought leaders, Swissnex in Japan acts as a platform for transdisciplinary exchange between Switzerland and Japan.

Through installations, artistic research, and foresight approaches, the exhibition invited new ways of thinking about how humans relate to ecosystems and other forms of life. Each project approached human-non-human relations from a different angle, touching on themes such as the rights of nature, interspecies care, and alternative governance models.

The exhibition opened with an evening of dialogue bringing together artists, researchers, and philosophers to reflect on humanity’s relationship with the more-than-human world.

The evening featured contributions from Swiss and international contributors, including Yelyzaveta Bezzub (University of Neuchâtel), Sulamith Tamborriello (Zurich University of the Arts), and Iqra Bano (New York University Abu Dhabi), who introduced their projects, exploring interspecies care, ecological responsibility, and the legal recognition of nature. A video message by Uryssé Kuikuro (University of Campinas) offered an Indigenous perspective, describing a worldview based on reciprocity between humans, animals, and the environment, where interaction with nature implies respect and responsibility.

The evening continued with a panel discussion featuring curator Yuko Hasegawa, philosopher Yasuo Deguchi (Kyoto University), and artist-researcher Hanna Saito (Toyo University). The conversation explored how art, science, and philosophy can help shape new approaches to planetary care and coexistence.

Across the evening, several themes emerged repeatedly: the need for dialogue that includes non-human perspectives, the importance of care and interdependence in shaping ecological futures, and the role of art as a bridge between disciplines and audiences. Ultimately, the discussion highlighted the importance of rethinking how humans relate to the living world, moving toward more relational approaches that acknowledge interdependence and non-human agency.

Through this exhibition, Swissnex reaffirmed its role as a catalyst for international exchange, fostering new connections across disciplines and contributing to global conversations on sustainability, governance, and the future of human-environment relations. The project also reflects Switzerland’s long-standing engagement with innovation, sustainability, and dialogue across borders.