Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF) hosted an event titled Dialogue on Arts, Culture & Climate Change in Beijing, October 9-12 2008.
The Marine working session looked at marine ecosystems, art and science collaborations and new designs for sustainable technology for the seas. Tapio Mäkelä presented the M.A.R.I.N. network and art & science residency concepts, Toshiroh Ikegami shared examples of marine and land based biospheres, Andreas Siagian talked about art and science and workshop practices by HONF (House of Natural Fiber), and Oleg Koefoed discussed plans for a boat project, to be based from Denmark and to address climate change.
The ASEF event gathered 43 Asian and European artists, designers, architects, cultural practitioners, environmentalists and scientists, who participated in a three-day workshop, organised in partnership with the China Central Academy of Fine Arts, the China Academy of Social Sciences and the Danish Cultural Institute. A second project phase will follow which will lead to an event held in Copenhagen in December 2009 alongside the Climate Change Summit. A report of the event can be found from here as a PDF.
Marine and littoral biospheres
An eco-designer based in Osaka, Japan, Toshiroh Ikegami works with sustainability of seaside cities. He aims to create designs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while demonstrating the vast possibilities design has to offer for the revitalisation of cities.
His Sea Farm project focuses on experimental equipment installation concentrating on the recovery of living organisms in the Osaka Bay. Sea Farm will create a suitable surrounding for marine life forms that would no longer be able to cope with the water in the Osaka bay. Further, development ot phytoplankton and algalg reproduction aids in the absorption of carbon dioxide by photosynthesis. The project has been proposed for Tokyo Bay area.
The Seaside Farm project is an experimental greenhouse at Seafront, utilizing solar energy, desalination of seawater for plant irrigation, and an architecture optimal for carbon binding - and growing plants. Hopefully we will be able to set up a collaboration with Toshirah in the coming years.