On Thursday October 5th The Research Group Art & Spatial Praxis organized a workshop with the Brackish Collective and a lecture with artist Müge Yilmaz on salt and effects of salinization of earth.


Together with the Brackish Collective, we experienced a culinary tasting session that intertwined knowledge of coastal vegetation in The Netherlands with future (im)possibilities. At the Sandberg Instituut's kitchen, we focused on halophytes and salt-resistant plants found in the coastal areas and dunes, while sensorially exploring an array of these plants like sea asparagus, dune roses, sea purslane, sea buckthorn, and red clover. Each plant represented a unique taste of the brackish landscapes, emphasizing the incredible potential within nature's offerings. This workshop was a vibrant fusion of art, gastronomy, and the natural world, leaving us inspired to further explore the intriguing possibilities that lie at this intersection.


Following the workshop with Brackish, we delved into the critical impacts of salinisation on soil quality and architectural structures, a concern exacerbated by rising sea levels and ground subsidence, through Müge Yilmaz’s lecture. The lecture highlighted innovative solutions like cultivating salt-tolerant crops and halophytes, as well as bio-saline farming and aquaculture in flood-prone areas. Besides, it looked at the cultural belief systems that surround salt and its speculative potential in a feminist, science fiction sense. Yılmaz's research aims to document agricultural endeavors alongside cultural practices, offering fresh perspectives on our relationship with rising sea levels.

Take a look at Müge Yilmaz' presentation here >






















Photos: Simon Pillaud