Tacit knowledge of place: Sensory and artistic approaches for capturing and communicating tacit ecological knowledge

This article highlights the importance of employing artistic and sensory methods in placemaking design and participatory land research to engage diverse voices and experiences. The study is organized into two main sections: first, it explores the interconnections between placemaking, place attachment and tacit (ecological) knowledge; then, it proposes sensory methodologies capable of engaging, capturing and conveying the tacit knowledge of place. Expanding the framework of placemaking to include participatory approaches to land decision-making, the article presents a case study conducted in a rural landscape, specifically the Hungarian floodplains, illustrating the application of artistic and sensory methods in understanding and communicating complex human–environment relationships. While the primary objective of placemaking is to collaboratively design and transform public spaces, creating environments that reflect the community’s identity and foster a sense of belonging, the study highlights how the prevailing consultation methods often exclude specific publics from both participation and knowledge creation. Utilizing a key case study that investigates the tacit ecological knowledge of floodplain farmers along the central stretch of Tisza River in Hungary, the article demonstrates how participatory sensory and artistic methods can reveal insights beyond verbal communication, contributing to a multidimensional and integrated understanding of human–environment relationships.