This or something similar could be the headline of our third General Assembly in Bilbao. At the invitation of our partner cluster GAIA, the Consortium met this week in the beautiful Basque Country to reflect on the diversity of societal challenges we have addressed in just 18 months and on the related key learnings. 2 intensive days focusing on the sustainable impact of the InteractionSeeds initiatives and how to present the added value to as large an audience as possible.
To get even more inspired, InteractionSeeds partners had the honour of meeting Manuel Ciraqui, curator at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao since 2016.
The cooperation of the disciplines is indispensable to be able to solve upcoming complex challenges on our planet.
Manuel Cirauqui
During the visit of the museum with Manuel we’ve discovered the pionnering work of Fujiko Nakaya’s with fog sculptures exemplifying the often-overlooked synergy between art and science in museum contexts. Her innovative approach not only redefines artistic expression but also contributes to scientific and practical advancements.
A bit of history
In 1970, Nakaya created the world’s first natural fog sculpture for the Pepsi Pavilion at Expo ’70 in Osaka. Collaborating with cloud physicist Thomas Mee, she developed a system that atomized water into fine droplets, producing a naturalistic fog without chemicals. This technology was patented and has since found applications beyond the art world, including in agricultural practices for microclimate control and irrigation.
Nakaya’s work underscores the role of museums not just as custodians of art but as platforms where artistic innovation intersects with scientific inquiry. Her fog sculptures, such as the permanent installation at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, invite viewers to experience the ephemeral and dynamic qualities of natural phenomena, fostering a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of art, science, and the environment.
This integration of disciplines highlights how museums can serve as incubators for cross-disciplinary innovation, challenging visitors to reconsider the boundaries between artistic expression and scientific exploration.
The meeting with Manuel Cirauqui reaffirmed all participants in their work and passion for the collaboration between art, science and industry. He says that the cooperation of the disciplines is indispensable to be able to solve upcoming complex challenges on our planet. And what better way to get the message across than with the Museum’s annual art programme, offering various complementary performances and workshops as a unique opportunity to think about the environment and environmental awareness.
Vita of Manuel Cirauqui
Manuel Cirauqui (b. 1978) is a curator and writer, working at the crossroads of contemporary art, design strategy, and experimental academia. He is the founding director of einaidea, a research platform created in 2019 and stemming from Fundació Eina, Barcelona. Associated with EINA University Center of Design and Art, Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona, einaidea operates as a project generator, a roaming design studio, an intensive study program, a curatorial office and a think tank of sorts. Largely based on artistic collaboration and co-creative dynamics, einaidea has partnered with Sonar Festival, Teatre Lliure, Arts Libris, Centre Grau-Garriga d’Art Tèxtil Contemporari, Fundació Tàpies, LOOP Festival, The Green Parrot, La Papeleria, Staedelschule Frankfurt, Royal College of Art Stockholm, Universidad Politècnica de València, among others.
We would like to thank him for the exciting exchange and start the final months of the project with motivation and passion.
