SWAMPS in ARCAM
BRAK:
intstallation/debate/exhibition/harvest festival
20
May 2011 – 27 May 2011
BRAK
(“Brackish”) was initiated by the artist duo SWAMPS (Roel van Timmeren and
Floris van der Keij) together with ARCAM (Architecture Centre Amsterdam), Alterra
and Plant Research International of Wageningen University & Research (WUR).
BRAK
is a manifestation in which the disciplines of art, science and architecture cooperate.
BRAK
sheds light from a variety of angles not only on the negative consequences of
salinization but also on the opportunities presented. It demonstrates how our
attitudes to nature and the environment are changing, and why it does not have
to be a problem (nature itself will come up with solution). The University of
Wageningen has researching the possibilities of saline agriculture for some
while now. This has consequences for the organization of our landscape, for the
farming industry, for Holland’s culinary culture and for society in general.
Land
salinization in the Netherlands
Sea
levels are rising, while in the low lying areas of Holland the ground is
sinking due to the terrestialization of former peat bogs. This leads to
increasing water pressure in saline aquifers and hence to saltier soils.
Millions of litres of fresh water are pumped daily into the polders maintain
the fertility of sub sea-level farmland under conventional farming methods. One
approach to this problem is to accept the salinization of the soil and to shift
the organization of traditional agriculture in the Netherlands towards the
cultivation of salt-tolerant vegetables.
Experimental
salt farm
SWAMPS
is temporarily installing an experimental salt farm on the ARCAM island, which
is surrounded by the freshwater of Oosterdok in Amsterdam. Vegetables such as
Samphire, Sea Aster, Sea Lettuce and Sea Kale will be precultivated and planted
by the University of Wageningen. The edge of the “field” will be guarded by an
enormous “scare-fish”. This object, which lights up like a marine lighthouse at
night, functions as a submarine scarecrow. The site-specific installation on
the island is intended to have the dual atmosphere of an altar and a
laboratory. It is meant as a slightly sardonic comment on the relation between
mankind and nature. The ripe sea vegetables will form part of a banquet to be
served on the banks of the IJ waterway during the Harvest Festival of 27
August.
Exhibition
and debate
The
windows of the ARCAM building which face the waterfront will house a window
exhibition. On 16 June, Wageningen University & Research will join ARCAM in
organizing a debate (on thursday 16 June at 19.30 hrs.) on the consequences of
salinization for building and planning. A leitmotif of the debate will be how
the various disciplines will contribute to shaping the Dutch landscape of the
future.
ARCAM: Open Tuesday–Saturday from 13-17 hours
arcam@arcam.nl / www.arcam.nl
SWAMPS: niemandslanden@gmail.com /
www.swamps.nl
