(Holding) the Thin Layer Tears and Goosebumps as Pedagogical Companions in Un/Learning

In this essay we unfold the textile artefact (Holding) the Thin Layer which was piloted in the second Confluence of European Water Bodies, in Venice 2024. A month later, it was part of a ceremony with environmental defenders from various advocacy groups around Lake Vättern in Sweden. The essay presents the origin story of the textile and the ceremony’s setup, reflecting on its realisation in conversation with concepts such as un/learning, the overview effect, decolonisation, and affects as pedagogical companions. We believe that pedagogical objects and practices like this can bring values and criticality to the Rights of Nature movement.