27 June: Co-Creation Workshop: Design a Decolonial Walking Map of the Gruson-Gewächshäuser & Klosterbergegarten
Join us for a participatory workshop with Dr Christina Horvath exploring the entangled legacies of colonialism, plant transfers, and Western scientific thinking as they are embedded in the landscapes of Magdeburg. Taking place in the Gruson-Gewächshäuser and the adjacent Klosterbergegarten, this session invites participants to reflect critically on how our lives and environments have been shaped by 18th- and 19th-century colonial travels, botanical collecting, and imperial knowledge systems. We will use methods of Co-Creation to facilitate "multispecies placemaking," expanding the concept of community to include non-human species. The workshop will integrate theories of decoloniality, multispecies and socially engaged art to discuss co-creation and participation from a multispecies perspective.
Together, we will consider three key questions:
- How have we lost our connection to earlier cosmologies through colonialism?
- How can we find and support nature in the city – enhancing biodiversity and sustainability?
- How might rethinking erased spiritual and cultural relationships with nature help us imagine more just and sustainable futures?
In preparation for the workshop, we ask participants to visit the site beforehand and select one feature — a plant, building, or monument — that stands out. Consider any potential colonial or global connections it may have. Take a photo or make a drawing, conduct some preliminary research, and write a short text (ca. 100–150 words) describing what you found and why it matters. Please upload your work to our shared Padlet (link to be provided upon registration).
Workshop Structure:
- Meeting point: Entrance to Gruson-Gewächshäuser (Schönebecker Straße 129b, 39104 Magdeburg)
- 14:00–15:00: Collaborative creation of a decolonial walking guide using participants' material
- 15:00–16:00: Performative group walk: sharing and reciting texts on site
The workshop outcomes will contribute to the creation of a downloadable, self-guided tour of the area that offers new, decolonial ways of seeing and moving through Magdeburg’s green spaces.
This workshop is open to all and does not require prior knowledge of decolonial theory or botany — just curiosity and a willingness to reimagine the world around us. If you are interested in joining, please register until 20 June 2025 via mail to PD Dr Nora Pleßke ().
Dr Christina Horvath is a Reader in the Department of Politics, International Studies and Languages at the University of Bath. Between 2021 and 2023, she led the Botanical Encounters project, which critically engaged with plants and green spaces from socio-historical and cultural perspectives. The project explored how botanical knowledge has evolved over time and how it has been shaped by history, global exchanges, and the displacement of plants from their original contexts. It included a talk series, five urban walks, and five art workshops, culminating in a collective exhibition featuring works by ten artists. Christina also designed a decolonial walking map of St James’s Park, London, and - together with Dr Ben Van Praag and a group of students - co-created the walk Bath’s Uncomfortable Past, which uncovers some of the city’s entanglements with transatlantic slavery.