The article discusses New Zealand's groundbreaking 2017 legislation granting personhood to the Whanganui River, highlighting the fusion of Māori cultural beliefs and Western legal principles. It emphasizes a shift in recognizing the rights of non-human entities. Gala Porras-Kim's exhibition, 'Conditions for recognising a living stone,' critiques conventional interpretations of personhood, raising questions about how different cultures ascribe meaning and status to inanimate objects. The example of Nenkheftka, an Egyptian statue representing a deceased individual’s spirit, illustrates ongoing debates about agency, culture, and law.
Gala Porras-Kim's exhibition challenges Western legal frameworks by proposing new definitions of personhood, exploring how rivers, corporations, and objects like statues might hold agency.
The recognition of the Whanganui River as a legal person marks a significant shift in perspectives on nature and non-human entities within legal practices.
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