Invisibledrum Art Platform

Invisibledrum (2018–2023) was an international and transdisciplinary research platform exploring animism and spiritual technologies within the fields of art and social-ecological systems. Founded in Trondheim, Norway, the platform fostered collaborations between artists and researchers across diverse disciplines, including performance art, ecology, ethnobotany, herbalism, technology, embodied knowledge, healing practices, psychology, anthropology, and speculative design.

Guided by ecofeminism, deep ecology, and animistic perspectives, Invisibledrum sought to challenge mechanistic worldviews and anthropocentric paradigms by integrating ritual, relational practices, and decolonial methodologies into contemporary art. The platform facilitated symposiums, performances, and gatherings that engaged with regenerative tools for ecological and societal transformation, emphasizing reciprocity, sensory perception, and non-hierarchical knowledge transmission.

Invisibledrum was co-founded by Nazaré Soares, an interdisciplinary artist, curator, aquatic body work therapist and steam bath specialist working at the intersection of contemporary art and deep ecologies, and Amalia Fonfara, a visual artist and shamanic practitioner exploring animism and contemplative healing practices. One of Invisibledrum’s key research areas was the Witch Trails Project, an artistic exploration of historical and contemporary narratives surrounding witch trials and plant knowledge. This project was initiated by Nazarè Soares and brought together artists who examined memory, magick, and ritual practices through pharmacopeia, performance, sound, and visual arts.

Marita Isobel Solberg, a Sámi and Kven musician, chanter, and visual artist, contributed to the Witch Trails Project with performances that invoked deep ancestral resonance and vibrational healing. Her interdisciplinary practice connected the body, voice, and landscape, embodying themes of transformation and otherworldly presence. Jessica Ullevålseter, an artist and activist with a background in performance and alchemical studies, worked within the project to interrogate history, healing, and the reclaiming of suppressed knowledge through shamanic and symbolic practices. Her work encouraged bold reimaginings of personal and collective heritage, often incorporating ritualistic elements to create immersive experiences. Amalia Fonfara research in the Witch Trails Project centered on the concept of ancestral restitution, addressing how the wounds of colonialism, patriarchy, and persecution linger in contemporary consciousness. Her work often engaged with memory and landscape, using shamanic methodologies and performance as a means of reconciling past traumas. Nazaré Soares, working with psychoacoustics and magic engineering, approached the project through hydrofeminism and the lens of ritual-making. Her research investigated the relationship between water, memory, and plants, particularly through sonic and performative methods that sought to evoke the voices of those silenced by history.

This project engaged with the ancestral memory of those persecuted as witches, investigating how contemporary art can serve as a vessel for healing and reclaiming erased knowledge. Through durational rituals and site-responsive practices, sought to create spaces where the spirits of land, plants and memory witnessed could be acknowledged and honored. The project wove together archival research, sound, and embodied practices to explore the intersections of herb-craft, animism, mysticism, and social justice.

In addition, Invisibledrum also collaborated with thinkers and curators dedicated to alternative knowledge-sharing. Francis Sosta, a multimedia artist and independent curator based in Berlin, contributed as a project manager and assistant curator, facilitating communal learning environments. Her research explored embodiment, listening practices, and intergenerational storytelling, engaging deeply with the interconnectedness of art, social life, and ecology.

Through its projects and collaborations, Invisibledrum reimagined the role of contemporary art in addressing environmental and social emergencies, exploring ancient and modern spiritual technologies, and fostering connections between human and non-human life. Though the platform ceased to exist in 2023, its legacy continues through the work of its founders, collaborators, and the networks it helped to cultivate.