Sea Sources

The seminar by Drugo More explores the relationship between nature and human activities, with one panel delving into natural resources being used in construction and ways in which materials and traditional techniques can be useful in the modern world as well as addressing local deforestation, while the second panel will examine the sea as an attractive force in the tourism industry that transforms both the coast and the sea for short-lived pleasures.

The first panel («The Shore», 11:00 a.m.) is dedicated to natural resources used in construction and to ways in which these materials and traditional techniques can be useful in the modern world. However, to avoid idealizing the past, we will also touch on local deforestation. The panel features Matko Šišak, Filip Šrajer, and Duje Dorotka. The discussion will be moderated by Henriette Waal.

The second panel («The Sea», 5:00 p.m.) is devoted to the sea as an attractive force in the tourism industry that transforms both the coast and the sea for short-lived pleasures. The panel features Sven Marcelić, Neven Cukrov, and Hrvoje Carić. The discussion will be moderated by Nebojša Zelič. Before the start of the panel, artist Robertina Šebjanič will address the audience through a video recording, discussing her projects exploring the interaction of toxic waste and marine organisms, and the design collective Oaza will talk about their project investigating the impact of nautical tourism on the Adriatic Sea.

Arthur C. Clarke noticed that it is inappropriate to call our planet Earth, when it’s clearly the Ocean. But, as usual, people tend to see things from their own perspective. We live on the land, and that’s why every story about the sea starts from the shore. From the shore, we embark on a short seminar we named Sea Sources, whose purpose is to familiarize ourselves with embedded knowledge and current issues related to the areas where land and sea meet.

As a species, we’ve brought the world to the brink of collapse, and despite knowing about the negative effects of our actions for over 100 years, it’s only in the last 30 years that we’ve done more harm than in the entire history of our existence as a species. That’s why it’s important to look into the past and rediscover materials, techniques, and knowledge that can reduce our impact on land and sea, as well as in the present moment where numerous technologies are available to enable us to continue a comfortable life without leading the planet to ruin. Awareness of what we do every day is growing, but without any significant impact on our actions. Short-term gain is still the key criterion, and our Adriatic Sea and coastline are still in a phase of extensive exploitation. Writing about the collapse of civilization on Easter Island due to intensive deforestation, Jared Diamond wondered what was on their minds when they cut down the last tree. The answer is probably, the same as us, when we continue with international trade, fossil fuels, airplanes, heavy industry, intensive agriculture, etc., despite the impending collapse.

Watch the lectures here>>