Water is poisonous.
Many of today’s water systems are contaminated with toxic substances like asbestos, arsenic, lead, radioactive particles, microplastics, and pesticides. These pollutants impact agricultural irrigation, leading to contaminated crops and various health issues, including poisoning, cognitive and physical complications, and terminal diseases such as cancer.
Water pollution damages aquatic ecosystems, resulting in biodiversity loss and the collapse of livelihoods dependent on these ecosystems. Clean water is scarce; over 2 billion people (1 in 4 people around the world) lack safely managed, clean drinking water.
Atmosphere, Erin Power, USA
Precipitation, Erin Power, USA
Groundwater, Erin Power, USA
Will water come? Haseeb, Afghanistan
Let’s Stop Water Pollution, Fabio Sassi, Italy
Different Worlds, James Nguyen, USA
Fish in a Polluted Sea, Zeynep Topçu, Türkiye
Aka H2O, Valeria Del Vacchio, Italy/UK (2008)
“Aka H₂O is a site-specific action created in 2008 in the Valley of the Winds, Irpinia, Italy. The work explores the relationship between human beings, water and matter, inviting reflection on the sustainability of our actions.
Water and matter are staged. Tied by an invisible thread, suspended between air and earth, moved by wind and human intervention. The work reflects on our relationship with water and the natural environment. Watch the video here. ” – Valeria Del Vacchio, Italy/UK
Picture Void, Robert Matejcek, USA
Voided Spaces, Robert Matejcek, USA
When the Swallows Fly, Robert Matejcek, USA
The Tear, Eylül Buzkan, Türkiye
Water is life.
Despite its power to shape landscapes and even pose challenges, water remains our most precious resource.
From hidden underground reserves to vast oceans, protecting and preserving our water sources is essential. By improving water management, reusing water wisely, and working together across borders, we can ensure a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.
From the lens of future generations:
Photographs taken by children at the Son-Kol Cosmos Photo Camp: Water, led by Sophie Dia Pegrum and Eleanor Pugh in Kyrgyzstan
What is your water story? Do you know your water footprint?
How do you help clean water and preserve it?
A huge thank you to all the artists who joined us and generously donated their artworks to shine a light on water issues and beyond.
What’s Next?
- See select artworks from Project H2O: Stories of Water up close in the Resilience & Reverberation exhibition at InterAction’s gallery in Washington, D.C.
- Dive deeper into the project! Learn more about Project H2O, the participating artists, and their inspiring artworks in our art’ishake special edition. Request your complimentary copy by emailing [artishake(at)art4development.net].
- Hear from the artists! Watch the Reviving Waters Webinar on Arts and Water Sustainability
- Make an impact! Purchase artworks to help raise funds and awareness for providing clean, safe drinking water to rural communities in Ethiopia.
- Change lives today! Sponsor a water well for a village in desperate need of clean water. Donate now.
- Let’s collaborate! Interested in partnering with us? We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at [info(at)art4development.net].
Together, we can turn creativity into action for a better future. Thank you for being part of this initiative.
Back to “Water is economy and politics”.