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AQUA – Art to draw attention to the uneven distribution of water

Article, 22.03.2017

Switzerland is supporting the travelling exhibition AQUA, which will open to the public in Geneva on 22 March on the occasion of World Water Day. AQUA is a project by ART for The World, an NGO that links up contemporary art, human rights and sustainable development. At AQUA, thirty contemporary artists from across the world will seek to show through their works that water is a shared responsibility.

The words Pubblica, Privata are affixed in steel letters to a weir across the river.
The permanent installation by Stefano Boccalini in Temù, Italy, titled Publica Privata, questions whether water is a public or a private good. ©The artists and Art for The World

Water is a prerequisite for any kind of life and it is indispensable for agriculture and industry. Access to clean water and sanitation facilities is a human right and crucial for human dignity, health and productivity. And yet, access to clean drinking water is not available to over 3.5 billion people globally, while an estimated 2.4 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation facilities. 

The SDC has been active in the water sector for over three decades. Water is a resource with uneven geographical distribution that has become a critical element for peace, political stability and poverty eradication. By supporting the AQUA exhibition, the SDC is promoting art and culture as a key medium for engaging with sustainable development in the water sector.

Interview with the curator of AQUA

Close-up shot of Adelina von Fürstenberg © Art for The World
Adelina von Fürstenberg © Art for The World

Adeline von Fürstenberg, founder and president of ART for The World and curator of AQUA, speaks about the exhibition: 

How did the idea for the AQUA exhibition originate?

AQUA is part of ART for The World’s ‘Interpreting Sustainability’ programme.

The aim is to link up contemporary art, human rights and sustainable development. In that context and following on from the International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’ 2005-2015, we conceptualised an exhibition on the significance of water for humans, animals and plants. AQUA is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 6 (Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all) and Goal 15 (Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems).

Artworks by 32 contemporary artists from Switzerland and other countries draw attention to issues pertaining to the environment, biodiversity, ecosystems, climate change and the protection of water as a source of life.  

What objectives are you pursuing with AQUA?

AQUA is a travelling exhibition. After Geneva it will show in São Paulo and then move on to further continents in 2018. The exhibition is intended to sensitise people about the concept of interdependence, which is of immense importance for the environment and the future of our planet. AQUA demonstrates that within our society, every person shares responsibility for water. 

Human actions have a direct impact on natural resources and on animals and plants. Issues such as the exploitation of nature, climate change, animal species threatened with extinction or the survival of flora and fauna in the wake of urbanisation demand that we question the relationship between humans and other forms of life. 

Water is vital for all life. Given the multitude of burning issues, it is clear that water has become one of the biggest global challenges today. Issues currently on the table are: to whom does water belong and is water a private or a public good?

How can art influence politics?

Art can influence politics only to a limited extent, but it does have the ability to shake people up. Consequently, apart from this exhibition, various parallel events will be organised in 2017-2018, such as guided tours, educational activities, film screenings and artist workshops. The objective is to reach out to as many people as possible and make them aware that water is a key element for sustainable development, for conserving the environment and for eradicating poverty and hunger.

How important is the SDC’s support for ART for The World and the exhibition?

The support extended by the SDC is part of its long-standing cooperation with ART for The World. We had already worked closely with the SDC on The Edge of Awareness exhibition to mark the 50th anniversary of the World Health Organization. This exhibition was held on four continents between 1998 and 1999, in Switzerland, the United States, Brazil, India and Italy.

Under our Playgrounds & Toys programme for refugee children, in which artists participate in creating playgrounds for disadvantaged children, the SDC supported the building of several children’s playgrounds in India and Armenia between 2002 and 2004.

The SDC’s renewed support to ART for The World and artists at AQUA demonstrates its strong commitment to art and culture as an important medium for sensitising the public at large to sustainable development.

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Last update 23.04.2025