-Human District -
What if we would start listen to the voices of materials, Objects, plants, animals and other humans.
At Human District exhibited at Material district, we (Morris Bouwman and Arjen Witteveen) try to make the voice of material discussable with visitors. It is a speculative fair where objects / plants / animals have a say.
For too long, we have been spoken about but never listened to.
Mined, woven, burned, carved, discarded— humans shape us, sell us, and build their world upon us. But we are not passive. We shift, resist, transform. We have our own cycles, our own alliances, our own ways of being. Here, in Human District, we take the floor. This is not a marketplace of extraction but a gathering of voices. We, the materials, have come together to share our stories, form new bonds, and rethink our place in the world—not as resources, but as participants.
Some of us endure for millennia, others dissolve in an instant. Some of us bind together, others repel. What happens when coal meets polyethylene? When marble listens to wool? When nickel and oak negotiate their longevity? Within these pages, you will find an index of exhibitors, glimpses into the event itself, and interviews where materials speak about their experiences and expertise. You will encounter advertisements, playful propositions,
and a vision of what a Parliament of Things might look like within the context of HumanDistrict. This is not just an exhibition it is an experiment in representation, a rethinking of agency, and an invitation to listen differently. We are not alone in this.
Morris Bouwman and Arjen Witteveen have worked to make this gathering possible. They do not speak for us, but they have helped set the stage, creating space for our voices to be heard. Now, it is up to you will you listen?
Welcome to HumanDistrict. Let’s begin.
