Assemblages and the Natural World: Understanding Relationships in Time, Space, and Kincraft Practice
The concept of assemblages has gained prominence in contemporary thought as a way to describe how relationships and connections shape the world, particularly in ecology, culture, and human-environment interactions. Rather than viewing entities as isolated or defined by rigid boundaries, assemblage theory emphasizes the dynamic and often fluid relationships between various elements that come together temporarily in particular configurations. When applied to the natural world, this idea of assemblages offers a powerful framework for understanding the complex, multidimensional, and evolving relationships that shape ecosystems and human communities alike.
In this article, we will explore the concept of assemblages, how it intersects with natural and cultural landscapes, and how it can be integrated into a kincraft-based practice—a philosophy that seeks to nurture meaningful relationships with the land through skills, crafts, and everyday interactions. Through examples of ecological and cultural assemblages, we will see how assemblage thinking helps us recognize the tacit, embodied, and multiple layers of relationships that exist between individuals, communities, and the ecosystems they inhabit.
What Are Assemblages?
Assemblage theory emerged from the work of philosophers Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, particularly in their influential book A Thousand Plateaus (1980). In their framework, an assemblage (or "agencement" in French) refers to the coming together of various components—whether material or immaterial, human or non-human—that form a temporary whole. Importantly, an assemblage is not a static entity but a dynamic, evolving process that is constantly being reconfigured by the relationships between its parts. It is not merely a collection of things but a network of interactions that occur in specific times and spaces.
Assemblages do not adhere to fixed hierarchies or predetermined patterns. Instead, they are characterized by their contingency and openness to change. The components of an assemblage may come from different scales (ranging from the microscopic to the global), different temporalities (past, present, future), and different domains (biological, cultural, social, technological). For example, a forest can be seen as an assemblage of trees, soil, water, animals, fungi, microbes, and human activities, all interacting in ways that are constantly shifting based on weather patterns, ecological succession, and human intervention.
Crucially, assemblages emphasize relationships over entities. The focus is on how components interact and influence each other, rather than on defining each component as an independent object. This relational focus allows for a more fluid and flexible understanding of the world, where change, adaptation, and transformation are inherent to the way systems function.
Assemblages in the Natural World
When applied to ecology and the natural world, assemblage thinking provides a way to understand ecosystems as networks of interactions between diverse elements. A river, for instance, is not just a body of water flowing through a landscape; it is an assemblage of water, sediment, aquatic life, riparian vegetation, human infrastructure (such as dams and bridges), and cultural meanings (e.g., rivers as sacred places or resources for recreation). Each of these elements interacts with and shapes the others in complex ways, and these interactions change over time.
Consider the example of a pollinator assemblage within an agricultural landscape. Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds interact with plants, soil microorganisms, weather conditions, and agricultural practices (e.g., the use of pesticides). These relationships create a delicate balance that supports the reproduction of plants and the production of food. The health of pollinators is influenced by local biodiversity, climate conditions, human land-use decisions, and broader environmental factors such as climate change. Thus, the assemblage of pollinators, plants, and agricultural systems is a web of interdependent relationships, sensitive to changes at multiple scales.
Similarly, the biodiversity of a forest can be understood as an assemblage of trees, understory plants, animals, fungi, and soil organisms. Each component of this system influences and is influenced by the others, and changes in one part of the assemblage can ripple through the entire system. For example, the loss of a keystone species such as wolves or beavers can lead to significant changes in vegetation patterns, water flow, and species diversity, highlighting the interconnectedness of the assemblage.
What is critical in this understanding is the recognition that ecological relationships are not just spatial but temporal. Ecological assemblages are shaped by both historical processes (e.g., geological shifts, species migration, human land-use practices) and future possibilities (e.g., climate change, species adaptation). By recognizing that assemblages exist within both time and space, we can better appreciate the evolving nature of ecosystems and the need for flexible, adaptive approaches to conservation and ecological stewardship.
Kincraft and Assemblages: Grounding Relationships in Place
Kincraft, as a practice, emphasizes place-centered relationships with the land and the more-than-human world through ancestral skills, ecological awareness, and cultural engagement. The idea of assemblages fits seamlessly into a kincraft-based practice, as it encourages us to recognize the multiple, layered relationships that exist between individuals, communities, and the land they inhabit.
One of the central tenets of kincraft is that we are never isolated from the natural world but are always part of a larger ecological and cultural assemblage. Our actions, skills, and practices are embedded within a web of relationships with the land, plants, animals, and other humans. By adopting an assemblage perspective, kincraft practitioners can become more attuned to the dynamic interconnections that shape their lived experiences.
For example, a kincraft-based practice might involve foraging for wild plants. In this activity, the forager engages with an assemblage that includes the plants themselves, the soil they grow in, the insects that pollinate them, the weather patterns that influence their growth, and the cultural knowledge passed down through generations about how to identify, harvest, and use these plants. The forager is not just interacting with individual plants but with a living, interconnected system that is influenced by both natural and cultural factors.
In this context, the act of foraging is not simply about collecting resources but about participating in a reciprocal relationship with the land. The forager must be attuned to the health of the ecosystem, understanding when and how much to harvest to avoid depleting the plant population. This requires an awareness of the temporal dimensions of the assemblage—knowing when certain plants are in season, how their growth patterns have changed over time, and how future climate conditions might affect their availability. In this way, foraging becomes an act of care and responsibility within a larger ecological assemblage.
Similarly, a kincraft-based approach to building or crafting with natural materials might involve recognizing the assemblages of plants, animals, and human labor that come together to produce a functional object. For example, carving a wooden bowl requires an understanding of the tree from which the wood comes, the soil and water that nurtured the tree's growth, the tools and skills used to shape the wood, and the cultural meanings associated with the finished object. In this assemblage, the bowl is not just an inert object but a product of relationships between living and non-living elements that come together in specific ways.
The Tacit, Embodied, and Multiple Relationships in Assemblages
A key feature of assemblages is their ability to capture the tacit, embodied knowledge that exists within relationships. Much of our knowledge about the natural world is not explicit or codified but is embodied in our actions, practices, and ways of relating to the land. For instance, Indigenous knowledge systems often emphasize the tacit understanding of the land, developed through generations of lived experience and interaction with specific ecosystems. This knowledge is often transmitted through storytelling, rituals, and daily practices, rather than formal scientific methods.
Kincraft, too, draws on this tacit and embodied knowledge, encouraging practitioners to engage with the land in ways that are deeply experiential and relational. By working with natural materials, observing seasonal changes, and participating in communal practices, kincraft fosters a deep, intuitive understanding of the local ecosystem as an evolving assemblage of relationships.
Assemblage thinking also helps us recognize the multiple layers of relationships that exist between individuals, communities, and the land. These relationships can be ecological, cultural, social, and spiritual, and they often overlap in complex ways. For example, a community’s relationship with a particular river might include practical concerns (such as water for drinking or irrigation), cultural meanings (such as the river’s role in local folklore or religious practices), and ecological relationships (such as the river’s impact on local biodiversity). By recognizing these multiple layers, kincraft practitioners can develop a more holistic and integrated approach to their relationship with the land.
Conclusion: Assemblages and Kincraft as a Path to Deep Ecological Connection
Assemblages offer a powerful way to understand the complex, dynamic relationships that shape both the natural world and human cultures. By focusing on the interactions and relationships that exist between various components—whether they be plants, animals, humans, or cultural practices—assemblage theory helps us see the world as a network of connections that are constantly evolving.
When integrated into a kincraft-based practice, the idea of assemblages encourages individuals and communities to cultivate a deep, place-centered relationship with the land. By recognizing the tacit, embodied, and multiple layers of relationships that exist between humans and the more-than-human world, kincraft fosters a sense of reciprocity, care, and responsibility. Whether through foraging, crafting, or communal rituals, kincraft practitioners are constantly participating in and shaping the assemblages that sustain life, culture, and ecological balance. In this way, assemblages provide a valuable framework for understanding and nurturing our connections to the land in a meaningful and sustainable way.
