TEXT

Within the Laboratory of the Future in Venice, the Argentine Pavilion explores the Future of Water. As we know, water is fundamentally tied to the history of life on the planet. Life has always depended on it, and its relationships with geography and climate have shaped the characteristics of the biosphere over millions of years. These same relationships will also determine the future of life on Earth. In any possible future scenario for the planet, the role of water will be essential.

Human habitat and water have always defined one another. Over centuries, our technology and culture have developed interventions aimed at ensuring its availability and benefits, while also controlling its negative effects.

Today, however, human activity itself has generated excesses and imbalances: the future availability of fresh water, the capacity of rivers and oceans to absorb waste, and the potential rise in sea levels due to climate change are factors that could drastically affect life on Earth.

Argentina has a rich and privileged relationship with water, with significant global reserves of drinking water in its subsoil, lakes, lagoons, glaciers, and rivers. At the same time, its extensive Atlantic coastline defines its relationship with the sea.

The exhibition reveals the multiple facets and scales of water across territory and time. By observing our behaviors in relation to water resources and what we build around them, we can interpret part of our relationship with water and encourage reflection on future actions.

The curatorial structure consists of a series of themes and terms that encompass all scales of water. Based on the definition of a theme, a set of related images is grouped by proximity, bringing out connections between territory, works of urbanism and architecture, engineering projects, artworks, and examples drawn from popular culture.

These themes and terms form a glossary related to water that organizes the exhibition’s curatorial framework.