Problem Statement:

The atemporal encounter laboratory “Time Capsule” is an interdisciplinary exploration that blends oceanography, linguistics, and anticipatory storytelling. It serves as a safe space for interaction, experimentation, and provocation, engaging with the evolving marine landscape. The goal is to develop tools for navigating the profound shifts caused by drastic climatic changes, while also imagining possible futures.

Challenge description:

In the wake of drastic climatic changes, a disruption in space-time has emerged. Ice is vanishing from the Earth’s surface, revealing previously inaccessible oceanic pathways. This has triggered a transtemporal dialogue between various entities. The “Time Capsule” atemporal encounter laboratory by artist Laure Winants is an interdisciplinary exploration merging ocean sciences, linguistics, and anticipatory storytelling. It provides a safe space for interaction, experimentation, and provocation within the transforming marine landscape caused by human activities, with the goal of developing tools and strategies for navigating these changes and envisioning future possibilities. In order to achieve this, we need to start the de-anthropization of natural environments: viewing oceans, airspaces, and terrestrial areas as dimensions where humans are only a small part of life.

During the fellowship we plan to actively participate in an oceanic research mission aboard the Belgian research vessel, Belgica, working directly in the field. The focus will be on synthesizing data from light and optical instruments. This research aims to contribute to the development of an immersive installation that translates environmental data, such as temperature and salinity, into sound and light frequencies, while also creating 3D mappings of the seabed.

Residency characteristics:

We are offering an interested scholar or researcher, invested in fields that connect to this challenge, the opportunity to collaborate with artist Laure Winants who has a unique track record of interdisciplinary field-research and production.

The residency is facilitated by GLUON, a Brussels based platform for art, science and technology. During the residency, the artist and the scientist will be also be supported by a select group of researchers of the Belgian Royal Institute of Natural Sciences specializing in the field of Oceanography.  Additionally, possible access to the prestigious oceanic research vessel, Belgica, will be discussed at the beginning of the project.

We hope that the scientist will be able to make themselves available for at least 6 intermittent meetings, of which at least 1 in-person meeting in Brussels throughout the residency process. Availability for working together in person at the studio of the artist, the scientist lab and/or or on-site is desired. The collaboration will further Laure Winant’s ongoing production of different artworks and installations, which will be showcased at the Museum of Natural Sciences in Brussels during two different moments (first quarter and at the end of the residency).