As both a visual artist and a forest ecologist in training, Milah van Zuilen (1998, NL) brings art and ecology into close conversation. A recurring motif in her work is the square, a shape that reflects this human perspective, often seen in mapping, taxonomy, and monocultural land management. In her recent projects, Van Zuilen rearranges plant material into squares and grids, referencing structured classification systems while allowing organic matter to subtly resist imposed order.
Walking plays a fundamental role in this process. As Milah moves through landscapes, she collects materials, both physical and observational, that shape her compositions. Her natural collages are made from reassembled leaves and other organic material. They trace moments of Van Zuilen's attention along her path, transforming walking into a form of mapping.
This approach resonates with the 19th-century American naturalist and philosopher Henry David Thoreau’s idea of ‘sauntering’ — a way of moving not toward a fixed destination but toward a deeper relationship with the land.
The interplay between structure and spontaneity, grid-like order and organic form, is at the core of Walking. Van Zuilen advocates for the idea that no system — whether artistic, scientific, or territorial — can fully contain the shifting, living complexity of a landscape. Walking invites a closer look, beyond rigid frameworks, toward a more attentive way of seeing the land.