| Monday 3 April 2023 |
| 10:00 - 13:00 |
Open Studio by Dries Segers
at the Wintertuin, Academy
For his Open Studio Dries Segers, researcher at Thinking Tools, invites the public to join him in his research project at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp. His project focuses on non-digital generative materialization of photographic images through (a)biotic matters. In this way, a potentially dominant gaze of a maker is exchanged by reacting to, and radically collaborating with, the mechanism and raw material itself. This creates an artistically open process driven by the vibrant matter and its agency. This research will focus on the local, the attachment to the soil, the connection to traditions, photographic history, seasons, and the attention to the earth. By working with materials of (a)botanic origin, Dries Segers wants the experiments to lead to new devices and techniques that (re)activate historical and innovative knowledge.
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| 14:00 - 15:00 |
Lecture by Boaz Levin
at Aula Pand, Academy
For his talk, curator and writer Boaz Levin will present his research on Mining Photography: The Ecological Footprint of Image Production, an exhibition dedicated to the material history of key resources used for image production, addressing the social and political context of their extraction and waste and its relation to climate change. Ever since its invention, photography has depended on the global extraction and exploitation of so-called natural resources. In the early 19th century, these were salt, fossil fuels such as bitumen and carbon, as well as copper and silver, which were all used for the first images on copper plates and for salt paper prints. By the late 20th century, the photographic industry was one of the most important consumers of silver, responsible, at its peak, for more than half of the metal’s global consumption. Today, with the advent of digital photography and the ubiquity of mobile devices, image production is contingent on rare earths and metals such as coltan, cobalt, and europium. Image storage and distribution also consume immense amounts of energy. During his talk, Levin will discuss the significance of looking at the history of photography as one of industrial production, deeply intertwined with the human change of the environment -- as well as the challenge that such a narrative presents.
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| 15:00 - 16:00 |
Lecture by Arjen Mulder
at Aula Pand, Academy
In June 2022 sound artist Signe Liden, curator Hilde Methi and biologist/mediatheorist Arjen Mulder organized the first 7-day workshop of the Academy of Rhythmorphology at Slettnes fir, the most northern lighthouse of the world, at the Arctic Ocean in Sampi (Norway). Twelve artists from different disciplines studied the forms and rhythms of the ocean, the algae, the coast, the wind and ourselves. In this lecture I will dive into the research methods and results of ARm#1. (arm.flytedokk.org)
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| 16:30 - 17:30 |
Lecture by Laure Winants
at Aula Pand, Academy
For her talk, visual artist Laure Winants will focus on the Albedo project (2021), a project undertaken in close connection with climate scientists. She will talk about the different stages of its development: from the starting point, to the establishment of the research protocol and the presentation of the final visualization results. As a research-based artistic practice Laure works in close connection with scientists and their use of new technological instruments, such as sensors, lidar, spectrometer, and all kinds of scientific tools that helps us to listen and to better understand the movement of our earth and environment. She has an extensive history of bridging art and science through a variety of photographic practices. In particular, her work has examined volcanic activity in Island, mega-fires issues in Brazil, and, most recently, the effects of climate change in the Pyrenees Mountains.
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| Tuesday 4 April 2023 |
| 10:00 - 13:00 |
Open Studio by Dries Segers
at the Wintertuin, Academy
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| 14:00 - 15:00 |
Lecture by Dirk Pauwels (Sustainability Engineer)
at Stormkop, Droogdokkenweg 4, 2030 Antwerp
Starting from the scientific point of view of the current sustainability crisis, the presentation will elaborate on the multidisciplinary approach that is required to bring about the necessary societal change. Given the complexity and size of the problem, science will need to show the way. However, disruptive behavioral change will be absolutely necessary and this will require us to put the social dimension at the center of our roadmap to change. Informing, inspiring and motivating people for change is needed now more than ever before. For this purpose, Dirk Pauwels has acquired specialized knowledge about sustainability through education (MSt in Sustainability Leadership) and experience. He has co-operated with academia, government and industry to initiate several projects to reduce plastic pollution of the river Scheldt and professionally, he focuses on helping companies and organizations to reduce their ecological impact.
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| 15:00 - 16:00 |
Lecture by Ronny Blust (Professor Ecophysiology and Ecotoxicology at UAntwerp)
at Stormkop, Droogdokkenweg 4, 2030 Antwerp
Ronny Blust will hold a talk on the ecological problems the Scheldt estuary is facing. He is part of the research group ECOSPHERE at the University of Antwerp. The ECOSPHERE research group aims to study both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems that are continuously challenged by natural and anthropogenic stressors. It combines laboratory experiments, field investigations, and mathematical modeling and goes beyond the impact studies toward solution-based research (mitigation and nature-based solutions). The group consists of professors, research managers, technical staff, and researchers who combine chemical, molecular, physiological, and ecological expertise to understand the propagation of stress effects across levels of structural and functional organization.
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| 16:00 - 17:00 |
Stormkop Safari
at Stormkop, Droogdokkenweg 4, 2030 Antwerp
Organized tour by Koos Hogeweg of the dry docks and the nearby Scheldt area where Stormkop is located.
The lectures and safari are organized in conjunction with Stormkop and will take place on their premises.
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