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Haunted Waters for NaturArchy catalogue

Haunted Waters bar
Installation view Haunted Waters Bar

Pollution, contamination, forever chemicals…What have we done?! OMG! I need a glass... 

Welcome to the Haunted Waters Bar—a growing collection of contaminated waters. Here, you'll find a menu featuring a variety of water samples from around the world, submitted by activists, scientists, swimmers, citizens, and friends. Some samples come from lakes, rivers, and the sea, while others are filled from the tap. While they may all look similar, each water is haunted by a multitude of ‘spirits’ telling different stories—stories that speak of the past, of decisions made by those in power, of struggles, accidents, wars, greed, and action. 

Chemicals in water are not unlike ghosts – they haunt and alter beings and places, are often invisible to the naked eye, relate to historic injustice, and are trapped in places they were not meant to be. The complexity of chemical cocktails hinders research on their negative impact on health and environment. The destruction of ecosystems and disruption of communities conjures these eerie beings into existence; the spirits have awakened! 

How do we live with haunted waters?

Haunted Water Samples, Spirits, Menu


Nonhuman Nonsense

Nonhuman Nonsense is a research-driven design and art studio creating near-future fabulations and experiments somewhere between utopia and dystopia. By embracing the contradictory and the paradoxical we aim to redirect focus to the underlying ethical issues. We seek to transmute our relationship to the non-human – telling stories that open the public imaginary to futures that currently seem impossible. Working in the embryonic stages of system transformation, in the realm of social dreaming and world- making. We use storytelling as tools for reflection of the present, not to create dreams of futures, but to stop for a moment to take a look at how narratives drive the continual creation of “the world”. Examining how, for example, human domination leads to destructive ways of relating to other beings. We are looking forward to engaging in discussions about themes such as: Rights for nature and nonhumans / (space) decolonization / mythology and anthropomorphism / entanglement and interbeing.

Website

Instagram: @nonhuman_nonsense

Caterina Cacciatori

I am Caterina Cacciatori and joined the Water and Marine Resources unit at JRC Ispra in July 2021. In the water quality laboratory, I support the citizens engagement project “The gems of water”, which belongs to the work of the Social Engagement Platform of the World Water Quality Alliance. The project aims at linking an advanced method of water quality monitoring to citizens of local communities around the world. Trained as Environmental Engineer and researcher in water treatment at the University of Tokyo, I went on to study a Master at the University for Peace in Costa Rica, where I focused on the complex relationship bet- ween sustainable development, natural resources and peace. Working on “The gems of water” project, I really found the path I want to walk in the future: I am convinced that interdisciplinarity is essential if we want to solve the issues we are facing today!

Instagram: @aaguacaate