What role does fabric sculpture play in multispecies ethnography?

Fabric sculpture plays a unique and transformative role in multispecies ethnography by serving as a tactile and visual medium to explore relationships between humans, animals, and the environment. Unlike traditional ethnographic methods, textile art allows for a more embodied and imaginative engagement with non-human species, capturing their presence, agency, and interconnectedness with human societies.

Through soft materials like fabric, yarn, and thread, artists and ethnographers can challenge rigid boundaries between species, highlighting shared vulnerabilities and cohabitation. Fabric sculptures often evoke emotional and sensory responses, making abstract ecological concepts more accessible. For example, textile representations of endangered species or habitats can foster empathy and awareness, bridging scientific research and public engagement.

In multispecies ethnography, fabric sculpture also critiques anthropocentrism by decentralizing human narratives. By crafting non-human forms—whether animals, plants, or microbes—artists emphasize their subjectivity and ecological significance. This approach aligns with ethnographic goals of documenting more-than-human worlds, offering a creative alternative to written or photographic records.

Ultimately, fabric sculpture enriches multispecies studies by merging art, activism, and anthropology. It invites viewers to reconsider their place within a broader web of life, fostering deeper ecological consciousness through the universal language of craft.