Out of the Blue

After their successful performances Mining Stories and Pleasant Island, Silke Huysmans and Hannes Dereere are making the final piece of their trilogy about mining. This time they take a closer look at a completely new industry: deep-sea mining. As resources on land are increasingly depleted, mining companies are turning their sights to the ocean.

“We know more about the surface of the moon than we do about the bottom of the ocean.” This statement often comes up when it comes to the deep sea. Worldwide, only ten percent of the ocean floor has been mapped and studied. At a point in history where the planet we live on seems more or less studied, some places remain unexposed and untouched.

In the spring of 2021, three ships will converge in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. One of them is part of the Belgian dredging company DEME-GSR. Four kilometers below sea level, their mining robot scrapes the seabed in search of rare metals. On another ship, an international team of marine biologists and geologists closely monitors the operation. A third ship completes the fleet: aboard the infamous Rainbow Warrior, Greenpeace activists protest this possible future industry.

From their small apartment in Brussels, Silke and Hannes connect via satellite to the three ships, each representing a pillar of the public debate: industry, science and activism. Through interviews and conversations, they paint an intimate portrait of an emerging industry. The performance is an attempt to capture a potential pivotal moment in Earth's history. How much deeper can mining companies dig and where are we actually digging ourselves with humanity? What are the challenges and risks? What opportunities may be up for grabs?

This performance is part of the exhibition Tidal Zone Experiences that takes place from April 20 until May 25 at Pilar.
 

PROGRAM

20:45 - Doors open

21:00 - Performance Out of the Blue

22:00 - End