Turning the Tide residency showcase during Kulturfestivalen 2024!

Last week during Stockholm’s massive Kulturfestivalen, two thought-provoking artworks drew attention to a topic critical to everyone in the city: the future of our drinking water. As Stockholm continues to grow and face the challenges of climate change, what will happen to the water in Lake Mälaren, the city’s primary freshwater source? The artworks was the result of the first 3-months residency of the Creative Europe project “Turning The Tide”.

 

Mälarmaran – Scouting Future Fish by Ongoing Realities

Over at Vattentorget near Slussen, Ongoing Realities presented a live performance piece titled Mälarmaran – Scouting Future Fish, a satirical yet sobering look at the future of Lake Mälaren. The performance, held on August 16th, blended dance with elements of dark humor to explore a future where clean water in the lake might run out in just 80 years.

Audience members were invited to contemplate a dystopian scenario where we might one day need to adapt—perhaps even grow gills—as a result of rising sea levels and increasing pollution. The performance, described as a “refreshing breeze with warm, wet regards from Lake Mälaren and the future,” offered a mix of satire and serious reflection on the pressing issue of climate change.

 

 

Vikten av vatten (The Importance of Water) by Tina Eskilsson

At Norrbro/Strömparterren, Tina Eskilsson’s Vikten av vatten invited festival visitors to reflect—quite literally—on the significance of water in their lives. Tina Eskilsson, known for her interdisciplinary work with water, created an installation of large water drops suspended on strings. Visitors peered through the drops and saw an upside-down reflection of the surrounding environment, a visual metaphor for how climate change could turn our world upside down.

But this was more than just a visual experience. Over the course of the day, visitors were encouraged to participate by filling and hanging additional water drops next to the streaming water under the dock. This growing installation became a collective artwork, symbolizing our shared responsibility in protecting our water resources.

Join the Conversation

Both of these works highlight the urgent need to discuss and act on environmental issues, particularly the future of our water resources. As Stockholm continues to develop, these conversations are more important than ever.

In Turning the Tide, we are committed to addressing these critical issues, using art as a catalyst for awareness and change. We look forward to continuing this important conversation in our next residency, where we will collaborate with two very promising local artists. Stay tuned as we explore new ways to engage with the pressing environmental challenges facing our community.

Curator: Elisavet Papageorgiou

Images by Intercult team & Tina Eskilsson