SUBMERGE - Raising Awareness Through Art
A one of a kind exhibition that looks at water beyond a resource
Features
The historic monsoon experiment, a data logger helps one to understand the monsoon circulation
Preetika Parashuraman
The earth is home to 70 percent of water but less than three percent is usable. For many, water is sacred. It inspires art and music and is central to many rituals and ceremonies. However, not all this water is accessible. This is because we often abuse that precious three percent of water.
The sea levels are rising, rivers and lakes are choked with garbage and eventually drying up. Such cases have led to the recent claims that Bengaluru like many other states of India is going to run out of water.
Science Gallery Bengaluru’s exhibition season-Submerge aims to raise awareness through art. The twelve transdisciplinary exhibits designed by artists and scientists from across the globe explore the collective experience of water in everyday life and reflects the future challenges we confront.
Art provides a space for expression. It serves as a vehicle for social change. Through art, the congregation of research scientists, geologists, hydrologists, and even artists intend to excite the people about the opportunities and developments in research in a stimulating social environment.
On an artistic scale, when water microbes become artists, they create living paintings that resemble the Gerhard Richter colour chart. Jennifer Wightman’s Munshell Richter are living landscapes which were presented by collecting mud samples from ten water bodies across Bengaluru. Over time, due to exposure, the waves of colour express the presence of decay in our water bodies.
The sounds of the oceans are indeed cacophonic due to the clump of industrial and domestic waste. An artistic and playful design by Steven Tevels brings out the sounds of the polluted water bodies of Bengaluru, literally. The scientific device whose fine needles are in direct contact with a sample of water from the lakes of Bengaluru generates a loud vibrating sound to indicate the unhealthy amount of toxic pollutants. “The desperate voices of the oceans will truly send chills down your spine.” added one of the organisers.
Surely, climate change is identified as one of the global challenges. The Indian water bodies are facing multiple trials in the form of rapid urbanisation, changing livelihoods and degradation of resources. These have developed conflicts with regard to water allocation and quality. An underwater robotic installation called ArchaeaBot designed by British artists, Alex May and Anna Dumitriu explores what life might mean post climate change.
Archaeabot, an underwater robotic installation which explores life post singularity and climate change
“These artistic installations or exhibits do not provide answers but stimulate reflections on urgent issues.” said an organiser. It enlightens people visually and leaves them pondering about this wonderful spectacle, that is water. It drives people to look at water as a weird substance that is present in microscopic cells and even in colossal oceans. Submerge through its exhibits intends to stem conversations that address challenges and identify the future.
