WE ARE OCEAN Berlin+Brandenburg Book, graphic design sheet, concrete poetry by Studio Anugraha, Mumbai, 2022
“WE ARE OCEAN Berlin+Brandenburg Book“
The WE ARE OCEAN Berlin+Brandenburg publication reflects the respective project in Berlin and Brandenburg conducted in 2019 by Lisa Rave, and curated by Anne-Marie Melster and Julia Moritz. It narrates the story of how art can make a difference in the context of ocean protection through essays, short scientific texts, curatorial statements, and educational reflections.
The book is giving a voice to all participants of the book and invited renowned writers and curators like TJ Demos, Stefanie Hessler, and Julia Moritz as well as the leading marine biologist and director of the Alfred-Wegener-Institut Antje Boetius to contribute with specific texts.
The book and the project are introduced by the artistic director of the WE ARE OCEAN Global Program and co-founder and director of ARTPORT_making waves.
Studio Anugraha from Mumbai created the graphic design based on their research about sustainable book production, particularly for this publication.
The editors Anne-Marie Melster and Marc Johnson were supported by the curator Lina Vincent, who accompanied the graphic design production in India.
Our generous funder the Postcode Lotterie DT gGmbH made it possible to gather the voices of this project in a meaningful publication with international voice. It is published in German and English and will reach the public in fall 2022.
WE HAVE GOT AN EXCITING PROGRAM PLANNED
ARTPORT_making waves and CLB Berlin invite you to celebrate the publication of the book WE ARE OCEAN Berlin+Brandenburg on Tuesday, July 18th at 6 p.m.
Berlin is by the sea. And not just in our hearts. Critically experiencing the close integration of land and water, city and sea, nature and culture is one of the fundamental concerns of the global WE ARE OCEAN project. The BERLIN+BRANDENBURG edition brought together artists, scientists, politicians, curators and, last but not least, students and teachers to exchange views on the fundamental importance of the ocean in the context of climate change.
The book of the same name brings together the experiences of the students as well as new texts by Antje Boetius, Stefanie Hessler, T. J. Demos, Francesca Santoro, Julia Moritz, Lisa Rave and Anne-Marie Melster. It shows different approaches to raising awareness about the threatening situation of the ocean and to changing our behaviour.
We are pleased to present the book now and to return to the CLB Berlin am Moritzplatz for this occasion. Anne-Marie Melster welcomes the author and project curator Julia Moritz and the author and project artist Lisa Rave. Elang Basadi, curator of ARTPORT_making waves in Botswana, is visually staging the book for this evening. Drinks are available.
CREDITS
Illustrations (expressed in the form of concrete poetry) and book design for ‘WE ARE OCEAN Berlin + Brandenburg’ book commissioned by Artport_making waves. @artport_mw
The WE ARE OCEAN Berlin+Brandenburg publication reflects the respective project in Berlin and Brandenburg conducted in 2019 by Lisa Rave, and curated by Anne-Marie Melster and Julia Moritz. It narrates the story of how art can make a difference in the context of ocean protection through essays, short scientific texts, curatorial statements, and educational reflections.
Now finally with professional photos, kindly provided by @studioanugraha who designed it with heartfelt dedication, supported by Marc Johnson and Lina Vincent. We were very lucky to get on board outstanding authors for the text contributions. The marine science world is represented by Antje Boetius, famous arctic researcher and head of the Alfred-Wegener-Institut whose text is seducing us to the deep sea. TJ Demos builds the bridge between contemporary art, radical politics and ecology. His text talks about capitalism, oil spills and ocean acidification, but TJ also says: « If we are ocean – our contemporary existence integrally reliant upon the earth’s seas, all interconnected as one super-entity – then the oceans is us, too. » Stefanie Hessler gives us an overview of many ocean connected contemporary artists. It is a pleasure to read all those texts, also the ones of Julia Moritz and Lisa Rave, over and over again. Not only are we grateful for the contributors, but also to the Deutsche Postcodelotterie for the valuable funding and to les presses du réel for the distribution. The WE ARE OCEAN Global Program was created to change something for good in this world. And the publications for each project are meant to review the individual project and to make the change even more long lasting.
The editor Anne-Marie Melster was supported by the curator Lina Vincent.
