Series of artworks on pharmaceutical pollution in water
Resulting from a 1 year long research residency produced by LUCA School of Arts and GLUON, Brussels.
Exhibited in Bozar Museum, Brussels
October 20-December 4, 2022
Water mediates and sustains all life. As a solvent, it passes between our bodies, the air, waterways, manufacturing processes, and treatment plants as a fluid continuum.
The artworks presented address the complex issue of pharmaceutical pollution. Pharmaceuticals are essential for maintaining, improving, and prolonging our lives. In the adjacent bathroom Ahmed’s poster “Your Urine” presents the fact that 90 percent of pharmaceutical pollution is introduced through human urine and that of the animals we raise to consume.
“The Fountain of the Amazons” is a thinking machine made to consider the effects of contraceptive on water ways. Each day one contraceptive pill is dropped into the water. A peristaltic pump recovered from a water treatment plant moves the water from the basin into artificial kidneys. Kidneys are the filters of the body and these are used in dialysis.
From here the contraceptive infused water is moved to a model of the vagina commonly used to demonstrate the application of diaphragms for sexual education. The water is urinated back into the basin. The basin contains a small model of a festive scene taking place at a classical fountain. The part human, part fish, androgenous beings carry out a festive but ambiguous scene. The 3D printed fountain is a based on a 14th century Italian mural in Manta Castle by an unknown artist.
“The Fountain of the Amazons” offers an anachronistic place to speculate about the contraceptive-infused futures. It presents the perennial utopian idea of a world without men, governed by matriarchy as a practical possibility. Contraceptives have allowed for unprecedented freedom for women.
The candles at the base of the sculpture make it a contemplative space. They have been accumulating wax since the 1970’s in the Café 69, a coffee shop in Maastricht. In the fountain the present an instance of accumulation, as contraceptives continue to accumulate in water ways and drinking water.
Realized with the support of and in collaboration with Micheline Verhaeghe of Pollet Water Group, Steven De Laet of Inopsys, Dirk Halet of VLAKWA, Inge Genné & Johan Ceulemans of VITO, David Gering of Pharma.be, Dries Laperre of Surplace, Justine Sauvage & Korneel Rabaey of Capture-UGhent, Jan Huygh of Atelier Vilvoorde and Piero Bisello
Photos: Johan Poezevara & Fabien Silvestre Suzorat
A Fountain of Eternal Youth
Materials: Materials: Human growth hormone (Sytropin and Genf20), ginkgo biloba, water, aluminum, ox gall, 3D prints, electronics, custom software, sound composition, and polycarbonate
Dimensions: 240 cm height x 250 cm width x 82 cm depth
2022
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A Fountain of the Amazons
Materials: Loestrin contraceptive pills, EllaOne emergency contraceptive pills, Water, 3D model of Fountain of Amazons based on "The Fountain of Youth” fresco, Château de la Manta, Saluzzo, Italie, 1411-1416 (artist unknown), medical model of vagina for instruction of diaphragm, Helen contraceptive pill package, 1970’s candles from Club 69 , plexiglass, wood, and aluminum
Dimensions: 280 cm wide x 200 cm height x 70 cm depth.
2022
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Your Urine
Materials: Three A3 inkjet prints and frames used in public toilet advertisements
2022
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Resulting from a 1 year long research residency produced by LUCA School of Arts and GLUON, Brussels.
Exhibited in Bozar Museum, Brussels
October 20-December 4, 2022
Water mediates and sustains all life. As a solvent, it passes between our bodies, the air, waterways, manufacturing processes, and treatment plants as a fluid continuum.
The artworks presented address the complex issue of pharmaceutical pollution. Pharmaceuticals are essential for maintaining, improving, and prolonging our lives. In the adjacent bathroom Ahmed’s poster “Your Urine” presents the fact that 90 percent of pharmaceutical pollution is introduced through human urine and that of the animals we raise to consume.
“The Fountain of the Amazons” is a thinking machine made to consider the effects of contraceptive on water ways. Each day one contraceptive pill is dropped into the water. A peristaltic pump recovered from a water treatment plant moves the water from the basin into artificial kidneys. Kidneys are the filters of the body and these are used in dialysis.
From here the contraceptive infused water is moved to a model of the vagina commonly used to demonstrate the application of diaphragms for sexual education. The water is urinated back into the basin. The basin contains a small model of a festive scene taking place at a classical fountain. The part human, part fish, androgenous beings carry out a festive but ambiguous scene. The 3D printed fountain is a based on a 14th century Italian mural in Manta Castle by an unknown artist.
“The Fountain of the Amazons” offers an anachronistic place to speculate about the contraceptive-infused futures. It presents the perennial utopian idea of a world without men, governed by matriarchy as a practical possibility. Contraceptives have allowed for unprecedented freedom for women.
The candles at the base of the sculpture make it a contemplative space. They have been accumulating wax since the 1970’s in the Café 69, a coffee shop in Maastricht. In the fountain the present an instance of accumulation, as contraceptives continue to accumulate in water ways and drinking water.
Realized with the support of and in collaboration with Micheline Verhaeghe of Pollet Water Group, Steven De Laet of Inopsys, Dirk Halet of VLAKWA, Inge Genné & Johan Ceulemans of VITO, David Gering of Pharma.be, Dries Laperre of Surplace, Justine Sauvage & Korneel Rabaey of Capture-UGhent, Jan Huygh of Atelier Vilvoorde and Piero Bisello
Photos: Johan Poezevara & Fabien Silvestre Suzorat
A Fountain of Eternal Youth
Materials: Materials: Human growth hormone (Sytropin and Genf20), ginkgo biloba, water, aluminum, ox gall, 3D prints, electronics, custom software, sound composition, and polycarbonate
Dimensions: 240 cm height x 250 cm width x 82 cm depth
2022
A Fountain of the Amazons
Materials: Loestrin contraceptive pills, EllaOne emergency contraceptive pills, Water, 3D model of Fountain of Amazons based on "The Fountain of Youth” fresco, Château de la Manta, Saluzzo, Italie, 1411-1416 (artist unknown), medical model of vagina for instruction of diaphragm, Helen contraceptive pill package, 1970’s candles from Club 69 , plexiglass, wood, and aluminum
Dimensions: 280 cm wide x 200 cm height x 70 cm depth.
2022
Your Urine
Materials: Three A3 inkjet prints and frames used in public toilet advertisements
2022
