Venice's Waters: Ecology, Art, and Activism in the Hottest Year
In 2023, which stands as the hottest year recorded, author Barbara Casavecchia contemplates the increasing waters of Venice, referencing Livia Chandra Candiani's poetry works "Questo immenso non sapere" (2021) and "Pane del bosco" (2023). Drawing inspiration from Macarena Gómez-Barris's "The Extractive Zone" (2017) and Édouard Glissant's "Poetics of Relation" (1990), she examines coexistence beyond colonial boundaries. Casavecchia also curated TBA21–Academy's The Current and the exhibition titled "Thus waves come in pairs." In February, canals were left dry by low tides, while May brought floods in Emilia-Romagna, displacing 36,000 people. High waters marked the summer, and in November, the MOSE barrier was put into action. On December 9, Extinction Rebellion turned the Grand Canal green in protest of COP28, while Lesley Lokko advocated for new terminology at the 2023 Architecture Biennale.
Key facts
- 2023 was the hottest year in recorded history.
- Barbara Casavecchia lived in Venice as curator for TBA21–Academy's The Current fellowship and the exhibition 'Thus waves come in pairs' at Ocean Space.
- Livia Chandra Candiani published poetry collections 'Questo immenso non sapere' (2021) and 'Pane del bosco' (2023).
- Macarena Gómez-Barris wrote 'The Extractive Zone' (2017) and Édouard Glissant 'Poetics of Relation' (1990).
- Silvia Federici authored 'Re-Enchanting the World' (2018).
- In February 2023, low tides in Venice dried canals and halted navigation.
- May 2023 floods in Emilia-Romagna caused deaths and displaced 36,000 people.
- The MOSE barrier was activated for ten consecutive days in November 2023.
- Extinction Rebellion dyed the Grand Canal green on December 9, 2023, echoing Nicolàs García Uriburu's 1968 action.
- Lesley Lokko curated the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale 'The Laboratory of the Future'.
- Ala Tannir wrote 'Blood in the water' (2017).
- Etel Adnan wrote the poem 'Sea and Fog'.
Entities
Artists
- Barbara Casavecchia
- Livia Chandra Candiani
- Macarena Gómez-Barris
- Édouard Glissant
- Silvia Federici
- Nicolàs García Uriburu
- Lesley Lokko
- Ala Tannir
- Etel Adnan
Institutions
- TBA21–Academy
- Ocean Space
- Fondazione Prada
- Extinction Rebellion
- Venice Architecture Biennale
- Duke University Press
- Sternberg Press
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Mediterranean basin
- Po delta
- Emilia-Romagna
- Adriatic Sea
- Lido
- Americas