Alexandra Moreno -  Artist 

Anthropocentrism is the philosophical viewpoint that places humans at the centre of the world, asserting that human beings hold greater value than other living and non-living entities. This perspective not only reinforces a sense of human superiority but also treats humankind as distinct from nature, seeing all other entities as resources for human use. Historically, this anthropocentric stance has influenced culture, science, and ethics, prioritising human interests above all else. However, in recent decades, emerging frameworks have begun to challenge this view, advocating for a more inclusive understanding of the interconnectedness of all life forms. Under the term ‘posthumanism’, various movements within philosophy call for a shift in perspective—one that dismantles the hierarchy between humans and everything else. These viewpoints encourage a way of thinking that values our connections with other beings and matter that surrounds us. Though these posthuman approaches may differ in their methods and focus, they share a common goal: to replace human-centred thinking with a perspective more attuned to the diverse, intricate relationships that define our world, cultivating a more caring way of being.

 

With these ideas in mind, the concept of recycling and the categorisation of matter take on new meaning. It is intriguing to consider that humans make distinctions between matter that matters and matter that doesn’t—a division nature does not recognise. “Trash”, after all, is a human invention; nature itself does not label materials as valuable or disposable. So, what if we treated all material with the same regard we reserve for the human?

 

In this sculpture, two contrasting elements—human and tyre—fluidly form a unified object, assembled entirely from discarded car tyres, blurring distinctions between the organic and the synthetic, the human and the non-human. By merging human forms with rubber, the body parts are abstracted, appearing to become part of the material itself or vice versa, dissolving the line between subject and object. The sculpture captures something non-living yet feels alive, highlighting how human life is intricately interwoven with the materials we create and discard.

 

The sculpture’s title comes from Donna Haraway, a pivotal figure in posthuman thought, who wrote, “the world is a knot in motion” to express the idea that all things in the world are connected through complex entanglements. In this view, existence itself is an ever-shifting network of relationships binding humans, animals, technologies, and ecosystems together in a dynamic web. In such an intricately connected world, to harm one part is ultimately to harm oneself. Haraway’s concept challenges linear and individualistic thinking, inviting us to see ourselves as part of a fluid network where every element both shapes and is shaped by others.

 

Through this human-tyre hybrid, we see ourselves reflected in what we often ignore—our interconnectedness with all matter, living or otherwise, in a world where boundaries continually shift and blend. Recognising our interdependence and our connections to others opens up new ways of seeing the world. It reveals that humankind and nature are not in competition, nor are they separate. By seeing the world as an interconnected whole—and thus moving beyond anthropocentric thinking—we can discover fresh perspectives on what it means to be human and reconsider how we relate to others around us, both human and non-human.