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Underlying Issue

The relationship between Venice and the Adriatic is fragile. The city depends on the twice daily tide to flush out its sewer system. On the other side of this coin the “aqua alta” happens much more frequently now than a century ago. John Keahey, author of the book Venice Against the Sea states that 100 years ago, extreme high tide happened on average 7 times a year. In the 1950s, that number rose to 20 times a year.^* In 1989 aqua alta occurred 40 times and in 1996, 99 times.[1] Sixteen hundred years ago, the sea level of the Adriatic was almost six feet lower than it is today. An IQP study done in 2004 estimated that the sea level around Venice is rising 0.23cm per year.[2]

There are several conditions being blamed for this. Global warming and its result of melting polar ice caps are causing sea levels to rise around the planet.[3] In the early part of the 20th Century, industries pumping groundwater under mainland Venice caused the islands to subside, that is the base of the islands sank into the space that formerly held ground water.[4] Heavy shipping and cruise ships are damaging the lagoon.^** Silt buildup and not being dredged out of the canals in a timely matter also contribute to the increased water level.[5]

* Harris, Joseph A. Turning the Tide. Smithsonian Magazine. September 2002. Vol. 33 Issue 6, pg 76
** The Rise and Fall of Venice.  Geographical (Royal Geographical Society). Jul2000, Vol. 72 Issue 7, p26

Concept

This installation is still in the very early conceptual stages. It is difficult to devise an installation to incorporate taste that relates to falling sea levels, and even more difficult to devise one for rising levels.

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