Oceans in Transformation, moderated by Nick Axel
Territorial Agency

The ocean is a sensorium: it records the transformations of the Earth in its complex dynamics, and it inscribes back into the forms of life its own cycles. Today, the global ocean is rapidly changing its circulations, energies, interactions, and ecologies. It is the most dynamic and sensitive component of our living planet, yet the most unknown. The ocean is in a new phase of its non-linear history, shaped by the intensification of the impact of human activities on the Earth System—the Anthropocene. The talk explores the award-winning project by Territorial Agency (link: https://www.territorialagency.com/oceans text: Oceans in Transformation), commissioned by TBA21–Academy.

(Territorial Agency)[https://www.territorialagency.com] is an independent organisation established by architects and urbanists John Palmesino and Ann-Sofi Rönnskog. Territorial Agency combines contemporary architecture, art, spatial analysis, advocacy and action to promote comprehensive territorial transformations in the Anthropocene epoch. Their work focuses on the integration of science, architecture and art in the challenges posed by climate change. The work of Territorial Agency is grounded in extensive spatial and territorial analysis through remote sensing technologies. Its focus is on complex representations of the transformations of the physical structures of contemporary inhabited territories. Through its work Territorial Agency engages different polities to re-evaluate the relations to the complex material, energy and information fluxes that mark contemporary territories.

John Palmesino and Ann-Sofi Rönnskog are Unit Masters at the AA Architectural Association School of Architecture, London. Recent projects include Oceans in Transformation commissioned by TBA21–Academy, in collaboration with ZKM Critical Zones and Taipei Biennial 20; Museum of Oilwith Greenpeace, ZKM Reset Modernity and Chicago Architecture Biennial; Anthropocene Observatory with Armin Linke and Anselm Franke at HKW Haus der Kulturen der Welt Berlin, BAK Utrecht and in the collection of Centraal Museum Utrecht; Plan the Planet with AA Architectural Association supported by Graham Foundation; North anonin Kiruna Forever at ArkDes; the Museum of Infrastructural Unconscious; and the integrated plan for the Zuiderzee region Unfinishable Markermeer. Territorial Agency is awarded the STARTS PRIZE 2021 – Grand prize of the European Commission honoring innovation in technology, industry and society stimulated by the arts – Artistic Exploration.

(Nick Axel)[http://www.nickaxel.net] is an architect, editor, educator, and curator. As Deputy Editor of e-flux Architecture, he has overseen the development of the platform since its founding in 2016 and undertaken projects in collaboration with biennials, museums, universities, and other cultural institutions around the world. Nick is also Curator of Architecture at the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center and Head of the Architectural Design department at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie.