Waters Of Rebirth

Waters of rebirth is an exploration of creative technology as a means of climate communication. Highlighting the intangible, cultural repercussions of climate change; it seeks to reframe our thinking about environmental issues; placing them within the immediate and localized context, while also casting a visionary eye towards a future sculpted by climate change.
Anchored in the story of Awankere Festival in Okere, in Delta state, Nigeria, a town emblematic of resilience in the face of environmental adversity. Waters of Rebirth takes on a poignant significance, interweaving speculative fiction, augmented reality photography and AI to envision a future where adaptation to climate change is an imperative reality. This festival, a 100+ year old cornerstone of Okere's cultural identity, stands as a vivid testament to the depth of cultural heritage at risk due to the advancing tides of climate change.
The narrative guides us from the present, where the audience is first introduced to photographs of the Awankere festival masquerades, enhanced by augmented reality. As the movement propels us deeper into the city, we journey toward a speculative future that envisions the city of Okere centuries after a cataclysmic flood event. The city is represented by a sculptural cityscape made of glass beads which show the ancient city under water and an imagined future city floating on the surface. The glass beads transcend their role as mere historical artifacts to become powerful emblems of a deep-seated technological lineage in Africa; indigenous knowledge that was poorly documented and understood. These beads weave a visual story that connects a submerged, forgotten past to a future brimming with resilience and hope, challenging and reshaping the traditional narrative of Africa’s technological history, while also emphasizing the critical importance of preserving cultural heritage as an integral part of our identity and legacy. Finally, through AI film, the audience is transported for a few moments, as the narrative provides immersive context and contemplation.
By highlighting the Awankere festival, Waters of Rebirth seamlessly connects the dots between the tangible threats of forced migration, displacement, the erosion of communities, and the intangible yet equally devastating loss of cultural practices and traditions including indigenous technical knowledge necessary to identify context-specific challenges and solutions.
The exhibition invites its viewers to engage with environmental issues in a manner that is both culturally resonant and urgently relevant, confronting the realities that shape our collective existence. Waters of Rebirth is a call to action. It urges the audience to perceive environmental challenges not as distant concerns but as immediate, personal crises, deeply interwoven with the cultural, historical, and existential fabric of African societies.