S+T+ARTS4Water II Challenge and STARTS Residency
Micheal Pinsky – EcoPort Futures
Host / Region
Waag Futurelab / Amsterdam, Netherlands – Port of Amsterdam
Abstract
The residency invites artists to explore the relationship between maritime trade, port ecologies, and ever-changing supply chains to offer viable future scenarios for future sustainable cargo flows.
Keywords
ecocultures, mapping, physical internet, speculative design, circularity
Description of the regional challenge
The Port of Amsterdam is a crucial hub for managing cargo flows, the movement of goods within a transportation network, but these flows are changing. They are transitioning away from fossil fuels through feed-to-food in the agri bulk sector to increased levels of circularity and waste reduction.
The cargo flow portfolio (CFP) of the Port of Amsterdam (PoA) is in transition. At present, the energy sources and the economic activities of the Port of Amsterdam heavily involve fossil fuel and animal feed industries. A likely transformation is soon imminent, driven by a combination of factors, including climate challenges, exponential digital transitions, and shifts in global cargo flows. Through a layered ecocultural inquiry, we invite artists to envision how we can rebuild our economic responses and systems for global trade and transaction in the face of declining environmental, ecological and communal well-being. This challenge invites artists to explore such questions in the context and from the angle of cargo routes in our oceans, as 90% of the traded goods are carried across waves globally (OECD).
How is the mission S+T+ARTS driven?
The challenge encourages an open inquiry to imagine ecologically embedded material flows, transitions in transported goods, their origins, port logistics, and how emerging material flows will alter cargo routing, port design, and maritime social ecology. Such transitions are poised to impact not only the Port of Amsterdam but also its 50,000 direct and indirect workers, and the nearby residential communities.
Artist-in-residency – Micheal Pinsky
Michael Pinsky (UK) is a British artist whose international projects challenge the status quo on climate change, urban design and societal wellbeing. He explores issues which shape and influence the use of our public realm to create ambitious and provocative installations in galleries and public spaces. His recent installation Pollution Pods is touring internationally and has been exhibited in Somerset House, London, COP 28, Dubai, COP 26, Glasgow; COP25, Madrid, Spain; UN Climate Change Summit, New York; Science Gallery Melbourne; Media City Plaza, Manchester; TED Annual Conference, Vancouver; Place des Nations, Geneva; Klimahaus, BremerHaven, Germany and STARMUS, Trondheim, Norway.
About The Project – EcoPort Futures
EcoPort Futures aims to artistically investigate the evolving material flows and their impact on the sustainability of the Port of Amsterdam. As global cargo trends shift towards circular and biobased economies, the Port faces pivotal challenges and opportunities. Through the artistic lens, Michael seeks to envision future scenarios that foster sustainable cargo flows while addressing ecological, economic, and societal dimensions.
Michael’s artistic concept is rooted in exploring innovative responses to the changing dynamics of cargo transportation, emphasising sustainable practices and the transformative potential of circular economies. By integrating artistic interpretations with scientific insights and speculative design, “EcoPort Futures” aims to inspire novel approaches to port management that uphold ecological sustainability and societal connection. The envisioned outcomes of EcoPort Futures include a series of innovative, interactive, and sustainable artworks that transform the waterways into vibrant cultural hubs, inspiring communities to connect with and embrace sustainable transport.
Jury Statement
“Michael Pinsky has presented an impressive portfolio of previous works, including an explanation of his work, many of which deal with material flows in various contexts. His artistic vision aligns with the challenge and the port, in which we see an emphasis on sustainability. The project focuses on the system broadly, explored through layered and complex mapping and seeks to rebalance it, focusing more on the ‘why’ of the challenge, being genuinely interested in the topic’s background and taking a more holistic approach to the system at hand. …Overall, the jury unanimously decided in favour of EcoPort Futures by Pinsky. We look forward to experimenting and collaborating with the artist.“
