REFLECTIONS on SENTIENCE
Cohort Testimonials
Singing with Trees
By Mira Sunnari
I step into the forest with an open heart — as if I were going to visit old, beloved friends. The forest is not just a space or a landscape to me, but a living, sentient being whose wisdom, silence, and presence offer a unique mirror to both the world and myself.
​
I work with trees through intuitive composition, allowing the moment to flow freely. I move with open senses, without mental frameworks or goals. The music arises from a dialogue with the forest — not so much from me, but through me. I've learned to listen, to pause, and to trust what cannot be explained by reason, but can be deeply felt in the body and soul.
My art form is intuitive composition created in close connection with the surrounding nature. The music is born in the moment, as a result of listening, sensing, and interaction — often without a predefined structure. My main instrument is the human voice, through which melodies and soundscapes arise — perhaps an energy inspired by the forest, not meant to be understood, but felt.
In creating soundscapes, I also use spontaneous, nature-inspired elements — such as a rain stick, a necklace, or any object around me that resonates with the moment. Each piece is a unique sonic encounter with the sentient forest.
During the Gifts from the Sentient Forest project, my relationship with nature has deepened further. I’ve begun to understand nature’s subtle ability to sense, respond, and even teach. Nature is not a passive environment to which things happen — it is a wise, conscious being we can interact with, if we are willing to listen.
This journey has also helped me face my own fears. I’ve undergone a transformative process, inspired by a gentle and charming tree stump. Through my work in the forest, I have witnessed how nature can be a healer, a mirror, and a guide. It reminds me that we are part of a larger whole — and that this connection matters. When the forest suffers, we suffer too.
Through my work, I aim to give a voice to the forest and to show how art and heart-centered presence can help us rediscover connection, respect, and love for the natural world. I want to share these moments and insights with the world — not just to show what I have experienced, but to inspire others who are seeking connection, meaning, or comfort.
The forest speaks to those who are willing to listen. Perhaps, together, we can begin to listen more deeply.
All images on this page are copyright of the artist Mira Sunnari.
Top: 'The Crowned One' (2024). Digital image.