Territorial Agency: Mapping the Oceans of the Anthropocene

In an interview with InsideArt, Territorial Agency, founded by John Palmesino and Ann-Sofi Rönnskog, discusses their project 'Oceans in Transformation', commissioned by TBA21-Academy. The collective uses satellite remote sensing and research to visualize the oceans as planetary infrastructures, revealing hidden networks of energy, logistics, and data. They argue that the Anthropocene has fundamentally altered our relationship with the sea, transforming it from a space of discovery to one of exploitation and control. Their work challenges traditional cartography by focusing on 'intensifications' rather than extensions, tracing trajectories to expose ecological, political, and technological conflicts. They propose the concept of the 'ocean as sensorium', a device that registers and reshapes human activity. The interview also explores the etymology of 'territory' (from 'terrere', to frighten), suggesting that territories are dynamic systems of signs rather than fixed boundaries. They critique the romantic sublime, asserting that in the Anthropocene, the observer and environment are inseparable. The project emphasizes the need for architecture and urbanism to adapt to a future where rising sea levels demand an 'oceanic' condition of thinking, moving beyond static grids to interconnected, dynamic systems.