Passage Festival 2025 once again highlighted the role of art and its interaction with nature using a variety of techniques . Tall trees, dense forests and slender sticks became a guiding thread through these performances. This year, Passage Festival became a very clear example of how it can be made inclusive and effective at the same time.
Over the years, Passage Festival has developed its commitment to art that speaks to contemporary debates about sustainability, climate and respect for other species.
Listen to the forest
Then we come to the snail. I met it in the rain-soaked forest floor with Norwegian-based BodyCartography in their Resisting Extinction walk, which as the title says, sought ways to resist extinction. In three acts, we were confronted with the myriad of life that the forest holds – with the weather and the likely demise of species in a climate crisis perspective.
First, one on one with a guide who, for me, was extremely skilled at reading the pace of the level of involvement. She aroused the curiosity that made me put my cheek on the ground and look at the snail. To close my eyes and follow her in the hilly terrain, to listen to the forest and immerse myself in tree roots and their connection with mycelium (fungal growth).
Then we were on our own, encountering the strange species of the forest, and in the end we were given the choice between dehydration or drowning in a coming climate apocalypse. After a brief exchange of opinions, the collective went with dehydration, which we experienced on the shores of the forest lake.
Slightly shivering with cold from our wet clothes, but also immersed in the chanting voice. Despite the performance’s basic mood of melancholic farewell to the planet, it had a budding hope for other ways in it. It thus encapsulated, in its own quite determined way, the role of art in perhaps the most important theme of our time.
The festival must once again have the opportunity to activate several parts of the city and, as here, involve citizens in performances where they use simple techniques to stimulate the thoughts of both the participants and the audience.
Even though I’ll probably never make friends with a snail, the very different performances create a space for reflections that we need to have.
The multifaceted commitment to climate, sustainability and other perspectives on the relationship between the planet, life and art has filled more and more of the festival year after year. It suits it, and although I will probably never make friends with a snail, the very different performances create a space for reflection that we need to have. That is also what art can do, and this year Passage Festival set a very clear example of how it can be made inclusive and effective at the same time.
