Living Mesh – A world beyond Linnaeus

Discover the connection

This exhibition explores your view of nature. Do you see nature as something you can organize and possess? Or do you experience it as a living network where everything is interconnected? The exhibition prompts you to reflect on this.

Historical influence

The exhibition starts with the work of Carl Linnaeus. This Swedish botanist developed an influential classification system. He did this in the 18th century at the De Hartekamp country estate in Heemstede. Here, he studied plants and animals from the collection of banker George Clifford III.

Organizing nature

Linnaeus systematically classified nature into hierarchically ordered categories. This system has influenced our approach to nature for centuries. The system is closely linked to colonial viewpoints. Learn about the impact of this ordering on our thinking.

New perspectives

Contemporary artists offer a different perspective on nature. They visualize nature as an interconnected network. In this view, interconnectedness is central, rather than strict classification.

Part of nature

Living Mesh encourages you to view nature as a community. We are all part of this. It is more than something we merely own or categorize. Experience how artists portray this in their works. You are welcome to discover this for yourself.