The IDEAL festival at TU de Nantes provided a unique setting for the encounter between research and artistic creation, bringing together Maryne Lanaro and Sergio Coto-Rivel around Terranaissant Imaginaries.
As part of the Conversations partagées series, Maryne and Sergio explored the narratives that shape our understanding of the world and contemporary ecological crises. Their collaboration intertwined theoretical reflections and artistic practices to envision new ways of disseminating knowledge while questioning the potential of desirable narratives in addressing ecological collapse.
This interdisciplinary project opens a space for reflection on how stories can transform our perception of the future.
©LauraSeveri
Once upon a time, there was a woman named Maryne who, along her journey, met Sergio. Both were researchers on a quest to explore the nature of stories—what we do with them and what they set in motion. Realizing they were walking in the same direction, they decided to travel together for two weeks. They shared the essence of their quest, how long it had been going on, and the people they had met along their respective paths.
On their journey, they came across a carrot. As they reached out to pick it up, the carrot spoke:
"Tell me, what is it that keeps you moving forward together?"
Maryne replied that this encounter had shifted her perspective on how to approach their research. Thanks to Sergio, she now understood that all stories—even the most dreadful ones—serve a purpose. She had previously been searching only within desirable narratives.
They continued on their way and came upon a stone. As they bent down to pick it up, the stone spoke:
"Tell me, what has troubled you along this journey, like a pebble in your shoe?"
Maryne answered: "Time—two weeks have passed, and already we must part."
They moved forward once more and encountered a cherry. As they reached for it, the cherry spoke:
"Tell me, what are you taking with you at the end of your journey?"
Maryne replied: "I believe that walking together allows us to lift our gaze toward the horizon. The other walks beside me, helping me not to stare at my feet but to look up. We both look toward the horizon, and if we see a sunset, we know that somewhere else in the world, at that very moment, a new dawn is rising."
— Maryne
The Conversations partagées organized by TU Nantes are based on a simple yet powerful principle: bringing together a researcher and an artist to create something together. However, this seemingly straightforward and open-ended approach also requires a deep synergy with other modes of knowledge production and dissemination. And that is precisely the value of this encounter—the creation of a space, a crossroads where we can pause for a moment, reflect, and imagine.
One question that has been on my mind for some time as a researcher is the possible pathways and forms my research could take, and more importantly, what kind of outcome or product would best reflect this work. The opportunity provided by TU reinforces this reflection by directly confronting us not only with theoretical exchanges about our fields of study but also with the challenge of shaping a tangible form—imagining new ways of doing, producing, and sharing research.
My encounter with Maryne, though brief, was incredibly enriching. It allowed me to approach my current project with a new perspective, considering the possibilities offered by desirable narratives within contemporary literary production. Exploring Terranaissant Imaginaries in Latin America also means taking a research stance on contemporary issues related to the climate crisis. We hope that this creation at TU will be just the beginning of a collaboration that continues for some time.
— Sergio
©LauraSeveri
