Plankton Imaginary: Transformative ecological art practices and situated learning in fluid networks

Short description:
This practice-based research explores how collaborations between art and science can enhance
the critical care of bodies of water. The study focuses on the intersections between community
science, art practices and mediation.

Abstract:
The following is a study proposal for my doctoral thesis at the Institute of Art History, University of Bern as part of the SNSF-research project: “EcoArtLAb1: Relational encounters between the arts and climate research” hosted by the Institute Practices and Theories in the Arts, Bern University of the Arts. The doctoral thesis will reflect upon the art and science collaboration, Plankton Ecosystems (hereinafter PE) and ask how can art and science co-creation contribute to the perception of waters and shape the narrative of global change and ecological justice? It repositions an ethio-political connection to ecological art, recognising that ecological art involves repair and can address politics, culture, economics, ethics and aesthetics as they affect the conditions of ecosystems (Carruthers).
Together with marine biologist Marta Musso, I will develop the project PE at the intersection of art and science. The project will focus on the perception of waters and the role of plankton ecosystems in regulating the Earth’s climate. The project will be developed in cooperation with Kunsthaus Pasquart, Biel and the European Research Institute, Turin, Italy.
PE is driven by a need to understand and mediate human impact, such as acidification, on the marine ecosystem. It asks how the oceans are affected by humaninduced shifts such as climate change. Plankton dominate aquatic systems in terms of biomass, thereby providing most of the ecosystem’s services. These include producing oxygen (by phytoplankton), absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and carbon sequestration. Like forests, aquatic areas can act as carbon sinks. A healthy aquatic ecosystem can thus contribute positively to the climate. But if climate change warms the
waters in a situation where they are already highly eutrophic and dysfunctional, this disturbed ecosystem can release large amounts of greenhouse gases, thereby further accelerating climate change.
PE will adopt a comparative, site-specific approach, considering the different conditions in aquatic ecosystems, as well as establishing relationships between the alps, rivers and lakes of Switzerland and the sea, looking for common elements, connections and interactions. Furthermore, we want to co-create a concept for accessible knowledge for target groups by using so-called ‘citizen science’ technologies, including plankton research and ocean literacy.
Finally, a transformation of disciplinary approaches through the creation of new identities and processes of knowledge production will be incorporated through the development and realisation of the art and science collaboration.

Keywords:
ecology, transdisciplinarity, collaboration, artistic research, community science practices, citizen science technologies, plankton research, marine ecology, video art, immersive art, fiction, storytelling, care practices, empowerment, ocean literacy, socio-cultural sustainability, environmental justice, climate/global change, biodiversity, art education/mediation, eco-art = ecological art