Rainwater retention system
Continuing with the metaphor of water, curator Jan Jongert attempts to implement an actual systemic change by addressing Venice’s severe water shortages and installing a low-tech rainwater retention system to supply the needs of the Pavilion and its surrounding gardens. Visitors will be able to witness the process and the technical, bureaucratic and other challenges of undertaking this seemingly simple task–thus providing a tangible road map for realising change (or revealing what stymies it) while prompting the question of whether cultural events can move beyond discussing, debating and proposing changes towards becoming testing grounds for enacting them.
50 organisations involved and counting...
At the opening of the Biennale, I was told by Jongert that they identified more than 50 organisations that would have to be involved in actually permitting the installation of such a system for the juste the single Dutch Pavillion. His ambition is to turn the whole Giardini in to a water saving environment for the future. A very ambitious goal indeed.
The System
The pavilion seeks to test a hypothesis of systemic change by implementing change on itself. Continuing with the metaphor of water – and given Venice’s current water challenges – pavilion curator Jan Jongert of Superuse Studios proposes to integrate a low-tech water retention system in the building. Capturing rainfall can not only supply the pavilion’s water needs, but also make the surrounding garden more resilient. Asking the question of whether cultural events can do more than simply discuss, debate and raise awareness of the urgent issues of our times, the pavilion will document and present the process (and, inevitably, the hurdles and challenges) of undertaking this seemingly straightforward task. What is learned, it is hoped, can act as a guide for future change.
Context: Rainwater retention for Dutch Pavillion in Venice -
Find out more on the Superuse Studios website.
In line with the overarching theme, Laboratory of the Future, formulated by curator Lesley Lokko for this year's Biennale, the Dutch pavilion is a testing ground for future-oriented, regenerative and circular design. Together with the Creative Industries Fund NL, the Nieuwe Instituut is also responsible for the parallel programme, The Biennale as Metabolism.