BODIES OF WATER

bodies of water explore the relationship between water, pedagogy and design, placing emphasis on 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, analyzing 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 teacher of Contemporary Art History, which involves two international partners: theUniversität Für Angewandte Kunst Wien (Austria) and theEscola d'Art i Superior de Disseny de Castelló (Spain).

bodies of water is part of Waterschool South, a spin-off of the Waterschool founded in Rotterdam by Studio Makkink & Bey: an educational program focused on the strategic importance of water as a finite resource, 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 promotes collective thought processes, creating common ground between the humanities, social sciences, 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 landed 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 examined the relationship between the city and water, a profound 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 aquifers, including the Amenano fountain, the Gammazita well, the Ursino Castle, and the Achilliane baths. Fabio D'Agata led us to discover the Consorzio Acque Santa Tecla, a former water extraction and distribution complex dating back to the 19th century.

Photo credits: Elisabetta Carrubba

All projects developed within bodies of water will flow into a collaborative digital archive: WetscapesThe platform will promote the development, sharing and application of experimental and transdisciplinary methodologies that integrate the knowledge and practices of the design, science, history and visual arts to address environmental challenges and contribute to the debate on European environmental policies, redefining the Mediterranean not as a frontier but as a space open to diverse visions to address the climate crisis.

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Guest speaker

Liliana Adamo

Architect

Stephen Branca

INGV Researcher

Jurgen Bey & Rianne Makkink

Founder of Studio Makkink&Bey and Waterschool

Andrés Fredes

Founder of EPIC Ecological Innovation Hub

Chiara Ianeselli

Curator and Cultural Heritage Specialist

Serpil Oppermann

Professor of Environmental Humanities and President of EASLCE

Oscar Tuazon

Artist

Guardian

Giulia Colletti

Professor in charge
Abadir Academy
Giulia Colletti is a curator and art historian, lecturing in Modern and Contemporary Art and Curatorial Studies and the Mediterranean (2024) at ABADIR. She was a Visiting Lecturer at Die Angewandte (2024). Co-curator of the biennial Mediterranea 19 – School of Waters, she developed an experimental pedagogical frameworks that rethink the material and symbolic agency of water. By challenging Eurocentric narratives and exploring water's geopolitical significance, her work fosters collective knowledge and interconnected ecological approaches within curatorial practices.

Cristina Gabà

EASD Castelló
Cristina Gabà is Head of the Ceramics Department and a master instructor at Escola d'Art i Superior de Disseny de Castelló (EASD). She specializes in ceramic techniques that integrate traditional craftsmanship with innovative, sustainable practices. Gabà's work explores ceramics' potential to address water-related environmental challenges, emphasizing adaptability and durability in design.

Marina Garcia-Broch

EASD Castelló

Marina Garcia-Broch is an architect and educator with expertise in industrial technologies and sustainable materials. Teaching Interior Design at EASD Castelló, she bridges research and practice by integrating ecological materials into design processes. Garcia-Broch addresses water conservation and sustainability through innovative applications in architectural and interior design contexts.

Ana Isabel Llorens Esteve

EASD Castelló

Ana Isabel Llorens Esteve is a ceramicist and workshop instructor at Escola d'Art i Superior de Disseny de Castelló (EASD). She investigates the intersections of ceramics with other disciplines, such as gastronomy and jewelry, highlighting their ecological and cultural significance. Her teaching and workshop practices emphasize the role of water in shaping sustainable, functional ceramic designs.

Gudrun Ratzinger

The Angewandte

Gudrun Ratzinger is a curator whose projects explore the intersection of art, climate action, and sustainability. At Kunstraum Lakeside, she fosters artistic discourse on ecological challenges, emphasizing water as a critical resource. Her leadership of the Technisches Museum Wien's Climate. Knowledge. Action! exhibition highlighted the cultural and environmental importance of water conservation in addressing climate change.

Yona Catrina Schreyer

The Angewandte

Yona Catrina Schreyer is an architect and researcher focusing on the environmental and social dynamics of urban development. At Die Angewandte, she leads the seminar Global Changes – An Atlas for Upending the World, which examines waterscapes as vital infrastructures. Schreyer's work rethinks the geopolitical and ecological role of water in mitigating global challenges and fostering sustainable urban futures.