NICE2025: POROUS — Ports as Interspecies Dwelling at Villa Arson - Nice, France

Curated by María Montero Sierra

Organised by TBA21–Academy and Villa Arson, with the support of the European Commission Initiative S+T+ARTS4Water II

June 7 – June 8, 2025

On the occasion of the World Ocean Day, the United Nations Conference on the Oceans & Biennale des Arts et de l’Océan 2025
A project within the European Commission’s S+T+ARTS4Water II initiative.

Featuring works by Adelita Husni-Bey, Plastique Fantastique, Lara Tabet, Territorial Agency, Stijn Demeulenaere, Siobhán McDonald, Hypercomf, and Carlos Casas, the exhibition will unfold as a guided path through Villa Arson.

Shapeshifter (2024-2025) by Siobhan <cDonald

Commissioned by European Commission's S+T+ARTS 4 Water

Shapeshifter engages with Dublin port from below with the aim to bring attention to the city's submerged, life-giving and altered land form dynamics, exploring Dublin’s enduring relationship with its permeating waters and ongoing legacies of quests for navigation in watery environments. This new commission will revive buried traditions and perspectives on Irish water bodies. Taking Dublin Port and its connection to global water as a paradigm – the project will map Dublin port as a neuron network allowing forms to appear through the action of natural forces, inviting nature to participate in the work.

https://starts.eu/siobhan-mcdonald-shapeshifter/

Image below: Exploring the diverse array of species with Dr. Paul Brooks and Jennifer Coughlan, of the UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science