A community of
young change-makers
developing a narrative
of hope for society
Artistic tools
cultivating emotional
symbiosis between
humans and nature
A safe space
for expressing emotions
related to the Earth
A community of
young change-makers
developing a narrative
of hope for society
Artistic tools
cultivating emotional
symbiosis between
humans and nature
A safe space
for expressing emotions
related to the Earth

WE ARE THE RESISTANCE TO
THE ANTHROPOCENE, THE STORYTELLERS
OF THE SYMBIOCENE ! WE ARE GEN (S)!

WE ARE THE RESISTANCE TO
THE ANTHROPOCENE, THE STORYTELLERS
OF THE SYMBIOCENE ! WE ARE GEN (S)!
Humans are nature: we’re made of the same material as the rest of the living world. Can we therefore imagine a society where humans live in better companionship with nature? Yes, of course we can! We won’t get discouraged by the mainstream environmental narrative, which focuses on problems rather than solutions.
In this so-called Anthropocene (supposedly the ‘era of Man’, but really the era of wealthy, white, cis men in positions of power), we are taught not to dream or hope for what many call utopias and fictions – but we disobey.
Because we, the younger generations, refuse to give up. We believe that remaining in the Anthropocene is choosing to accept a story of failure we are being told every day, everywhere. It is the choice to follow a vision that has long polluted our thinking and feelings, confusing the way we relate to the Earth.
We need to tell a positive story, to explore another way of being human and to envision a path that we can follow for a more enjoyable future on Earth.

A VISION BECOMES REALITY WHEN YOU
INSPIRE OTHERS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

We can choose to be the generation who takes down the walls between humans and nature. We have to disrupt the Anthropocene. The more people start living in the Symbiocene, the more the vision becomes reality. Gen (S) is still young, but it is growing everyday. Together, let’s dream of the world we want to live in – and let’s CREATE IT.


What is the Symbiocene?
In our industrialized world, there is a vital need for a new generation of humans working towards reintegrating human culture with the rest of life.
This is the mission of Generation Symbiocene.
So how does one enter the Symbiocene? By building a strong emotional connection with the Earth – much like a loving relationship – and acting accordingly.
What is Gen (S) ?
We chose to start by repairing the emotional connection between humans and nature with art and culture.
Gen (S) experiments with ways to raise ecological awareness through artistic tools, working with our emotions to create connections and bridges between the human and the other-thanhuman.
Collaborations
In dialogue with philosopher Glenn A. Albrecht
With the support of
In symbiotic collaboration with

In our effort to open doors to the Symbiocene by healing the emotional connection between humans and nature, we experiment with different artistic tools to develop ‘SumbioArt’ workshops, that is the practice of making art together with (sum-) all life (bios), in a respectful and fair way. When we foster emotional symbiosis with others – whether humans or not – we start making kin and kindred spirits. We strengthen our connections. Come with us to reclaim the green spaces in our city! In a world of negativity, stress and fatalism, let this experience be your bubble of well-being, freedom, positivity and hope. Take a taste of a potential new world : it’s up to us to make it real!

In our effort to open doors to the Symbiocene by healing the emotional connection between humans and nature, we experiment with different artistic tools to develop ‘SumbioArt’ workshops, that is the practice of making art together with (sum-) all life (bios), in a respectful and fair way. When we foster emotional symbiosis with others – whether humans or not – we start making kin and kindred spirits. We strengthen our connections. Come with us to reclaim the green spaces in our city! In a world of negativity, stress and fatalism, let this experience be your bubble of well-being, freedom, positivity and hope. Take a taste of a potential new world : it’s up to us to make it real!
Come with us to reclaim the green spaces in our city!
In a world of negativity, stress and fatalism, let this experience be your bubble of well-being, freedom, positivity and hope.
Sumbiography
The sumbiography creative writing workshop is an intimate moment, where ten people gather to remember and share the story of their individual relationship with nature.
Led by Elias Adam, dramaturge & founder of Brutal Stories
WHERE: Center of the Earth
WHEN: Sunday 08 + Sunday 15 of March 2020, 12:00 – 15:00.
Circles of Sumbiosis
This scavenger hunt and painting workshop aims at fostering emotional connection between children and the natural world, through the understanding of the concept of symbiosis.
Led by Aggelina Kanellopoulou, environmental educator and founder of The Bee Camp.
WHERE: Center of the Earth
WHEN: Sunday 31 May 2020, 10:00-12:00.
WHO: Children aged from 9 to 12 years old.
The Bird inside you
This storytelling walk is dedicated to watching birds and hearing their stories, while trying to identify with these non-human beings in order to discover our inner bird!
Led by Stelios Pelasgos and Efstathia Sideri, members of the Hellenic Ornithological Society.
WHERE: Antonis Tritsis Park
WHEN : Sunday 14 June, 2020 , 16:00- 19:00.
Sumbiophonics
This music workshop combines the sound of the trees and birds to traditional instruments and the human body and voice, producing records for a sumbiophonic sound bank.
Led by SELI KANOU, West African Dance & Music School & Company.
WHERE: Antonis Tritsis Park
WHEN: Sunday 21 June, 17.00 – 20.00.
Feel free to bring a small percussion instrument if you have one!
Sumbiokinesis
This body movement workshop aims at connecting with the life forces inside and outside our body, using the latter as a tool to interact with others, the trees, the soil and the space itself.
Led by Aria Boumpaki, dance artist and choreographer.
WHERE: The natural space of your choice, no matter the city or country you live in!
WHEN: Saturday 13 June 18:00-19:30.
Who can participate?
No previous experience is required for our workshops. Everyone is welcome, Generation Symbiocene does not tolerate any form of discrimination.
For information about the various spaces’ accessibility, please contact us.
Registration:
Places are limited. For all workshops, register at connect@generationsymbiocene.gr and mention the title of the workshop, your name and age.
For children and under 18, a parent or legal guardian will have to complete and sign an authorization form we will send you after your registration.
* EVERYONE IS WELCOME, WE DON’T TOLERATE ANY FORM OF DISCRIMINATION.
** FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPACE’S ACCESSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, PLEASE CONTACT US.

In our attempt to enter the Symbiocene, we meet regularly in the heart of Athens to:
- Share thoughts and feelings about society and the planet, acting as a support system
- Help each other to accept and deal with both positive and negative emotions related to the Earth
- Learn from one another, strengthening our bonds
- Discuss key concepts and shape new stories to tell the world
- Exchange with other grassroots initiatives and committed individuals

In our attempt to enter the Symbiocene, we meet regularly in the heart of Athens to share thoughts and feelings about society and the planet, to plan activities together in order to strengthen our bonds and to discuss key concepts we want to develop.
If you are interested in joining us, please send us an email with your name and age at connect@generationsymbiocene.gr
WHERE / We meet in natural spaces of Athens, send us a message and we will tell you where the next meeting will happen!
WHEN /Twice a month.
Generation Symbiocene does not tolerate any form of discrimination: we actively work to build an inclusive community. If you want more information about the space’s accessibility, please contact us.









Whether you want to help us get more and more people into the Symbiocene or you need a safe space to express your feelings about the Earth, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us! Coming to a meeting is also a chance to learn more about Gen (S) or just to hang out with like-minded people.
Feel free to bring a small item that makes you feel closer to nature, something to eat or drink [no alcohol allowed] and maybe a notebook.

WHO / Anyone can participate to the Gen (S) meetings. If you’re under 18, please download this Authorization Form and ask your parent or legal guardian to fill in and sign it. Bring it with you, as you won’t be able to participate without it.
WHERE / We meet in natural spaces of Athens, send us a message and we will tell you where the next meeting will happen!
WHEN / Twice a month.
HOW / Places are limited. Please send us an email with your name and age at
connect@generationsymbiocene.gr

Our inspiration comes mostly from the writings of Australian philosopher Glenn A. Albrecht, who invented the concepts of Symbiocene and Generation Symbiocene/Gen S. You can visit his blog at www.glennaalbrecht.com. We also recommend his recent book: Glenn A. Albrecht, Earth Emotions: New Words for a New World, Cornell University Press, 2019.
THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT US!
OTHER INSPIRING RESOURCES:
— Donna J. Haraway, Staying with the Trouble, Duke University Press, 2016.
— Thomas J. Demos, Against the Anthropocene, Visual Culture and Environment Today, Sternberg Press, 2017.
— Extinction Rebellion, This Is Not A Drill: An Extinction Rebellion Handbook, Penguin UK, 2019.
— Anna Tsing, The Mushroom at the End of the World, Princeton University Press, 2015.
— Felix Guattari, The three Ecologies, Continuum, 2008.

WE USE QUITE A LOT OF UNUSUAL WORDS
SO HERE’S A SUMMARY WHICH MIGHT HELP
IF YOU FIND YOURSELF CONFUSED!

WE USE QUITE A LOT OF UNUSUAL WORDS SO HERE’S A SUMMARY WHICH MIGHT HELP IF YOU FIND YOURSELF CONFUSED!
ECO-ANXIETY is a feeling of worry, agitation, nervousness and unease caused by concerns related to a changing and uncertain natural environment.
NATURECULTURE(S) is a concept defining nature and culture as inextricable. It is a mental model where you don’t separate human culture from the natural world as if they were two different entities. We are nature, therefore our cultures are naturecultures.
A NARRATIVE is a story, meaning an account of connected events and a specific way of explaining and understanding these events.
GENERATION SYMBIOCENE (coined by Glenn Albrecht) emerges from the ranks of all generations, such as Gen Z (those born around 2000) and Gen Y (those born in the 80s and 90s).
This is the generation that has been striking for climate every Friday, rebelling for life and changing their everyday habits as much as they can to reduce their carbon footprint. They are also the generation most familiar with feelings of eco-anxiety, worrying about the ecological crisis and the future of life on Earth.
OTHER-THAN-HUMAN encompasses all dimensions of life outside the anthropos, such as plants, animals, microorganisms and fungi.
SUMBIOART is about stimulating evolving processes of reconnections between individuals, their communities and their place of living, as well as between the human and the other-than-human. Unlike the BioArt of the Anthropocene, SumbioArt doesn’t use living organisms or processes to make art. There is no personal gain in SumbioArt, no domination over living forms by humans. It is an inherently social and ecological practice, nurturing life bonds in a naturalcultural framework.
SUMBIOGRAPHY is a term coined by Glenn Albrecht to explain the cumulative influences on one’s life that have shaped one’s eventual views of the relationship between humans, other forms of life and nature.
SYMBIOCENE is a term coined by australian philosopher Glenn Albrecht :
— συμβίωσις (sumbíōsis) literally means a ‘living together’ or ‘companionship’.
— καινός (kainos) means ‘new’. Commonly transcripted as -cene, it is a suffix used to identify geological epochs of the Earth. Thus, the Symbiocene is the era of companionship, of the ‘living together’, when life on Earth isn’t destroyed, but instead nurtured, by humans.
SYMBIOSIS comes from the Ancient Greek συμβίωσις (sumbíōsis) – from συν (sun): ‘together’ and βίωσης (bíôsis): ‘life, way of life’. These two roots combine to form the verb συμβιόω (sumbióô) meaning ‘living together’. Thus, symbiosis is the ‘living together’, ‘the life in common’. In science, it has been used since the 19th century to define the living – especially mutualistic – relationship between two or more beings. When coining various SumbioArt practices, we chose to follow Glenn Albrecht and to translate the greek υ with the latin u instead of y, in order to shift the scientifically derived term ‘symbiosis’ into a contemporary social and cultural context and to keep closer to the root meanings of sumbíōsis and súmbios.
GEN(S) 2020 — All rights reserved