The Singer Laren Museum in Laren, the Netherlands, presents ‘Wij zijn Natuur, We are Nature‘, a powerful exhibition inspired by the vision of Princess Irene van Lippe-Biesterfeld. The exhibition is not merely an artistic event but a heartfelt appeal to rethink humanity’s relationship with the natural world. For decades, Princess Irene has voiced her concern about the way humans separate themselves from nature, seeing themselves as outside or even above it. In her view, this disconnection has led to ecological and societal consequences that threaten our collective future. With We are nature, she invites us to rediscover our place within the intricate web of life.

“I hope to use art as a means to touch people’s hearts,” Princess Irene explains. Together with art director and curator Maarten Spruyt, she has brought together an international group of artists whose works serve as mirrors and windows into the interconnectedness of all living things. The exhibition features works by Henrique Oliveira, Jackie Mulder, Tomáš Libertíny, Sun-Hyuk Kim, Tony Matelli, and Tineke van der Pouw Kraan, among others. Each artist approaches the theme through unique materials and perspectives, yet all share a common aim: to highlight the fragile, yet beautiful, balance of life.

One striking example comes from Tineke van der Pouw Kraan, whose work explores the hidden ecosystems beneath our feet. She reveals a microscopic universe where fungi, bacteria, and plant roots interact in symbiotic networks that sustain biodiversity and food security. By making the invisible visible, her art underscores the profound dependence we have on these ancient systems—reminding us that human survival is intimately tied to the well-being of the smallest forms of life.

The exhibition is designed as a serene and reflective journey. Visitors are encouraged not just to look but to pause, listen, and feel. The artworks act as invitations to step outside the rush of modern life and enter into a contemplative space where nature is not an external object but an extension of ourselves. In this way, We are Nature becomes both a gallery and a meditation.

Alongside the main exhibition, Singer Laren will present Lure of Nature, a complementary selection of impressionist and modernist works from its own collection. In the late 19th century, as industrialisation transformed society, artists came to Laren to capture its rural landscapes and simple ways of life. Works by Anton Mauve, Else Berg, and Max Beckmann reveal how artists of earlier generations also turned to nature for solace, inspiration, and meaning.

The museum will also feature A garden path by Dutch painter Marc Mulders. Known for his recurring garden motif, Mulders’ new work resonates with themes of growth, life, and renewal, inspired in part by Singer Laren’s own sculpture garden designed by Piet Oudolf. His pieces serve as a reminder that the garden is both a literal and metaphorical space of cultivation.

We are nature is more than an art exhibition, it is an invitation to reconnect with the living world and with each other. Running until August 31, 2025, the exhibition will be accompanied by lectures, workshops, guided tours, and live performances. A specially published book, including an interview with Princess Irene by Matthijs Schouten, will further expand on its themes. We are nature challenges us to imagine a future in which human and non-human life thrive together, a future rooted in respect, awareness, and hope.