I’ve been fascinated by floating structures for quite some time now. I don’t enjoy being in the water, but I love the feeling of hovering over it. With our water levels constantly rising, it seems that sooner or later we will have to rethink the way we live. Where will we go when the water starts creeping up on us from every direction? By experimenting with floating structures I want to prepare myself for this new reality. I grew up in a farmers family in Thailand where we were taught from a young age how to be self-sufficient. When I moved to Belgium I noticed a shift in the way children are educated about their natural environment. Here they focus more on theoretical knowledge rather than on skills. Of course knowledge is an important aspect, but I believe that personal experiences can also teach us very important lessons. Nowadays we teach our children about animals, but we don’t teach them how they all are important pieces within a delicate ecosystem. By physically interacting and depending upon our natural environment, this awareness is experienced first hand.
In my research I explored the possibilities of constructing a floating garden, using bundles of straw and natural fibers. Within this residency I wanted to experiment with various designs of such a garden to initiate a dialogue about how we will grow food in a world of water.
