TED fellow and Seethisway founder Jorge Manes Rubio was inspired by everyday experiences in China when he began Normal Pool Level. The project, currently on display at the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art, takes a look inside the forgotten cities destroyed by the Three Gorges Dam.
The largely controversial hydroelectric dam, which completed construction in 2012, flooded 13 cities, 140 towns and 1352 villages resulting in the relocation of around 4 million people. In 2013 when the Amsterdam-based research studio founder went to see the devastation first hand, Normal Pool Level was born. The project consists of 'souvenirs' of the flooded areas that signify China's identity crisis as it continues to industrialize at incredible speed and the consequences of developing without taking its citizens into consideration.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Art as Activism
- Creating art projects that raise awareness and provoke discussions about social and environmental issues, such as the destruction caused by the Three Gorges Dam.
- Urban Regeneration
- Exploring opportunities to revitalize and rebuild destroyed or abandoned cities affected by large-scale infrastructural projects, such as the flooded areas by the Three Gorges Dam.
- Sustainable Development
- Promoting responsible and citizen-centric development practices to avoid the displacement and destruction caused by massive construction projects, like the Three Gorges Dam.
Where This Applies
- Art and Entertainment
- Creating platforms and opportunities for artists to express their views and showcase their work on social and environmental issues, such as the destruction caused by the Three Gorges Dam.
- Construction and Infrastructure
- Incorporating sustainable and participatory approaches in large-scale projects to minimize the negative consequences, such as the displacement caused by the Three Gorges Dam.
- Urban Planning and Development
- Adopting inclusive and socially conscious strategies to rebuild and regenerate cities that have been negatively impacted by infrastructural projects, like the flooded areas by the Three Gorges Dam.
