A Whisper, a Murmur, a Roar

In Eva Papamargariti’s A Whisper, a Murmur, a Roar, viewers encounter nature from the perspective of a chimeric creature. This three-channel installation pairs a poem written by the artist with dual perspectives of the creature as it frantically explores the wilderness, seeking connection with the natural world. By engaging with animals and its surroundings, the creature attributes personhood to nature—a concept rooted in cultural histories.

Nature’s personification has reflected shifting sociopolitical climates, evolving from a revered god to a civilian force, and later to a conquered, feminine subject. Theorists of the sublime emphasize nature’s vastness and danger, inspiring awe and fear, while Romantic artists linked it to spirituality. In early medieval Ireland, the Brehon laws granted legal protection to nature, acknowledging its social and spiritual value. During European colonialism, “Mother Nature” became a submissive figure to justify exploitation.

Exhibited at Kamera Hall during T&P’s Are You a Software Update?, this work challenges viewers to reimagine nature as a transformative field of resistance. Through the eyes of its chimeric protagonist, Papamargariti challenges us to see the natural world as more than a resource or backdrop—urging a deeper, more reciprocal relationship with the wilderness.