Natural! Creative Ageing and Sustainability

The need to change the way we think and act in order to preserve our livelihoods concerns all generations – and is increasingly finding expression on stages, in exhibitions and in works of art. For good reason: Those who deal creatively and artistically with an abstract topic such as sustainability have sensory experiences that go beyond a purely cognitive preoccupation. Cultural educational opportunities can make room for contradictions and irritations. Traditional thought patterns such as the belief in eternal growth are questioned. Why are intergenerational and inclusive settings particularly suitable for such educational processes in the sense of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)? What do intergenerational teaching methods look like that encourage unlearning of environmentally harmful habits? In addition, the concept of “green care” is a topic, because the positive effects of nature can be used to promote or maintain the health of people. The appropriate practical example is provided by cultural geragogue Petra Kellermann, who organizes outdoor cultural afternoons for people with dementia. A photo series shows works by photographers Karoline Hjorth from Norway and Riitta Ikonen from Finland. Their photos of older people around the world tell of the metamorphoses of lived life and nudge us toward human connectedness with nature.