What if we stopped thinking we were the center of the universe?

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We Thought We Were Alone is the new book of Koen Vanmechelen, bringing the soul of his major solo exhibition at the historic Palazzo Rota Ivancich in Venice straight to your hands.

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Published by Lannoo, this book gathers an exceptional group of thinkers – including curator James Putnam, senior writer Peter Dupont, cosmologist Thomas Hertog, art historian Laura Bardier, evolutionary biologist Menno Schilthuizen, glassmaestro Adriano Berengo, human rights expert Manfred Nowak, journalist Kirsty Wark, and social entrepreneur Chido Govera –  who each share a sharp essay from their own discipline. Interwoven with intimate reflections from Koen’s parents, Toon and Mieke, and rich, striking imagery, it creates a world where nothing stands alone. The catalog concludes with a chapter on the Wild Gene Festival, Vanmechelen’s collaboration with Senegalese musician Youssou N’Dour.

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The book is an invitation to explore the foundations of our time, asking what it truly means to be part of a complex, shared world.

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Published by Lannoo Publishers

Available worldwide

Graphic design: Bart Luijten

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