How Rivers Think is an extraordinary exhibition featuring a real herbarium that deviates from the conventional approach. Instead of drying botanical specimens to preserve them in an isolated and pristine state, this artwork presents them as self-contained ecosystems. The title of the piece draws inspiration from notable anthropological texts like “How Natives Think” (1922) and the more recent work “How Forests Think” (2013) by Eduardo Kohn, which is based on his research in the Ecuadorian Amazon. In the installation How Rivers Think (2018-2019), Santillán collected eighty slides containing water and plants from the Amazon while canoeing along the Kushuimi River, known to the indigenous Shuar people. Taking samples of the water and floating elements, Santillán carefully poured them into customized slides and sealed them, effectively preserving the living ecosystems within each slide. This unique perspective the artist offers allows us to perceive the river not merely as represented images but as the river itself, with countless worlds within its body. By exploring the river from within, the artwork challenges our perception and invites us to appreciate natural systems’ intricate complexity and interconnectedness. It provides a new river perspective, fostering a deeper understanding of its inherent vitality and role in sustaining diverse ecosystems. How Rivers Think prompts us to reconsider our relationship with rivers, recognizing them as living entities and emphasizing preserving their inherent wisdom and ecological significance.