“Every Path Was Once a River”

Art as the Re-enchantment of the World

Abstract

This paper examines the curatorial concept and artistic programme of the 2026 edition of the Berlin transmediale festival, which, under the motto "Every Path Was Once a River," rethinks the relationship between technology, nature, and art. The author demonstrates how the festival presents sustainable, community-based alternatives to extractive technologies and explores the intersections of decolonial perspectives, ecological thought, and contemporary art. The analysis also considers the aesthetic and social possibilities the festival offers for the "re-enchantment" of the world, while critically reflecting on the limitations of these aspirations.