Bodies of Water explore the relationship between water, pedagogy and design, emphasising the central role of water in social and environmental change. Through a multidisciplinary approach, it encourages a critical reflection on the climate crisis and sustainability, focusing on the Mediterranean region as a climate hotspot, analysing phenomena such as desertification, natural cycles and the intersections between ecology and politics, and exploring innovative solutions inspired by artistic, scientific and design methodologies.
It is a BIP promoted by ABADIR (lead institution) and coordinated by Giulia Colletti, curator and lecturer in Contemporary Art History, which involves two international partners:’University of Applied Arts Vienna (Austria) and the’Castelló School of Art and Higher Design Studies (Spain).
Bodies of Water is part of Waterschool South, a spin-off of the Waterschool founded in Rotterdam by Studio Makkink & Bey: an educational programme focused on the strategic importance of water as a finite resource, designed to trigger processes that stimulate cultural, academic and scientific progress for the improvement of the quality of life in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean basin.
«Rather than offering prescriptive answers, Bodies of Water fosters collective thinking processes, creating common ground between the humanities, social and environmental sciences and stimulating an integrated and interdisciplinary vision»
The first phase took place online between January and February 2025; from 17 to 21 March, the working groups arrived in Catania for a series of site visits and project activities, culminating in the final presentation of the projects.
Through a series of guided tours, we closely investigated the relationship between the city and water, a deep and ancient bond, sometimes hidden from view. Accompanied by INGV researcher Stefano Branca and a guide from the Etna ‘Ngeniousa Association, we retraced the history of the numerous underground water tables, among the Amenano fountain, the Gammazita well, Castello Ursino and the Achillian baths. Fabio D’Agata led us to discover the Santa Tecla Water Consortium, a former 19th-century water extraction and distribution complex.
Photo credits: Elisabetta Carrubba
All projects developed within Bodies of Water will flow into a collaborative digital archive: Wetscapes. The platform will promote the development, sharing and application of experimental and transdisciplinary methodologies that integrate the knowledge and practices of design, science, history and visual arts to tackle environmental challenges and contribute to the debate on European environmental policies, redefining the Mediterranean not as a border but as a space open to diverse visions to tackle the climate crisis.
Guest speaker
