Digital media, Interactive installation/ Dutch Design Week 2022 @ Evoluon
Embracing the reality of climate change can indeed be a complex journey, as it requires us to bridge the gap between scientific understanding and personal experience. The challenge lies in translating vast data and intricate patterns into tangible sensations that resonate with our everyday lives.
Consider the rise of sea levels, for instance. While it may be difficult to physically feel the subtle increase, we can begin to connect with this phenomenon by engaging our senses and imagination. Picture the gentle lapping of waves against the shore, imagine the vibrant underwater ecosystems, and recall the joy of building sandcastles with loved ones. Visualizing these cherished moments can help us empathize with the potential loss and transformation that rising sea levels might bring.
Our disconnection from the environment can be attributed to a variety of factors. The fast-paced modern world often keeps us preoccupied, distanced from the rhythms of nature that once defined our existence. The conveniences of technology, while offering incredible benefits, have inadvertently shifted our focus away from the intricate balance of the natural world.
To rekindle our relationship with the environment, we must embark on a journey of mindfulness and reawakening. Start by carving out moments for stillness and reflection in nature – a leisurely walk through a park, a quiet moment under a tree, or even gazing at the stars on a clear night. Allow yourself to be fully present in these moments, absorbing the sights, sounds, and sensations that surround you.
Engaging in sustainable practices can also foster a deeper connection. Planting a garden, composting, or even tending to a potted plant can create a sense of responsibility and closeness to the earth. Volunteering for environmental initiatives and learning about local ecosystems can further strengthen this bond.
Only when we reestablish a genuine and heartfelt connection with the environment can we truly comprehend the urgency of addressing climate change. This emotional connection provides the fertile ground from which meaningful action can spring forth. By nurturing our relationship with the environment, we can infuse our efforts to combat climate change with empathy, determination, and a shared sense of purpose.
Current Mood is an interactive design that uses real-time wave data from the seawater at Scheveningen. This project counters the increasing disconnection with nature, by removing us from our busy modern lives. It invites you to reconnect with the sea and use its mood to reveal your current emotion.
Reflecting on your mood in nature
Our body is deeply connected with water. Not only are we literally made up 60% of water, but we also feel a strong emotional connection to it. Just like the waves in the ocean, our mood can change swiftly and drastically.
Our minds are programmed to feel relaxed and calm when we look at large bodies of water, like oceans or lakes. Scientific research shows that big blue spaces stimulate us visually and can be significantly helpful for our mental stability. In this way, water helps us to find our peace of mind.
In current society, however, most people don’t or can’t take advantage of the mental health benefits of being close to water. Even in the cities which are closest to the sea, like Den Haag or Amsterdam, people find it increasingly difficult to find the time to visit. Paradoxically, because of our busy lives, we need relaxation now more than ever.
The relationship between humans and nature has drifted apart over the last decades. The further we strive from water, the harsher the waves will hit us in our minds.
Behind the scenes
Project Current Mood is connected to an online database with live high-resolution marine data from weather buoys located at Scheveningen. Real-time wave height is updated every hour and provides a tether between the seawater and the city’s inhabitants on land. It offers an alternative way to experience nature and invites us to tune out the daily noise. It wants its audience to reflect on their own current mood, by observing the mood of the sea.
In retrospect
This project is that it acknowledges the disconnection that technology can sometimes create between people and nature. In today's world, technology has become so ingrained in our daily lives that removing it entirely is simply not feasible. From laptops and phones to media consumption, cooking, and cleaning, machines have become integral to our existence. Rather than trying to eliminate technology, this project aims to strike a balance and find ways to leverage it to connect humans and the environment. This is more than a simple problem-solving exercise; it's an opportunity to consider the potential of technology to transform our relationship with the natural world. By questioning and discovering new ways of leveraging technology, this project offers a glimpse into what the future could hold and how we might be able to better integrate technology into our lives while still preserving our connection to nature.
Dutch Design Week 2022 x Next Nature