Accessories DIY

#recycled #ecoartist #visualartist

In our show the Aquamind relaxation space is an invention of the Volvac firm, to help compensate for waterscarcity and for the disappearance of all almost oceanic lifeforms due to pollution and climate change. It is a kind of comforting bubble mimicking the sensation of swimming in the deep sea. For that purpose, it includes a soundtrack mixing music and whale singing, a ventilation system to evoke the flow of waves and puppets representing fish and corals.

When enjoying an Aquamind session, people momentarily forget the distressing impact of Volvac on the environment... For the coherence of the show, Charlene Dubreton (our visual artist in charge of scenography and accessories) and I, have resolved to use recycled plastic to create the decor of Aquamind. It seemed like something a big brand like Volvac, desiring to greenwash their image, would do. It is indeed often the shortcoming of most firms when it comes to truly questioning their environmental impact: they decide to maintain business as usual but with recycled materials. Therefore, the puppets and decor elements from the Aquamind relaxation space, are being created from melted and sculpted mineral water bottles.

This design has been partially implemented during our second residency in Belgium in September 2022, and feedback of the audience was that it was indeed very soothing and poetic. An outdoor version of Aquamind will be tested in the island of Maddalena in July 2023 during the Be in the Move festival and in November 2023 for the Nuit du Geste in Paris.