Displuvium

Displuvium is an artistic research that examines the human desire to control our natural environment, particularly meteorological phenomena. Since the late 1940s, governments and other entities have chemically intervened on clouds to influence rainfall and to prevent hail from ruining crops, relieve periods of drought, intensify showers over military conflicts areas etc. Displuvium’s shape and materials are linked to the role of water basins throughout history. In Ancient Rome for instance, the displuvium was placed in a central room and was a window on an outside world in which the Romans could apprise themselves of the weather by monitoring the water surface for raindrops. 

The same applies in this installation, in which water drops are generated by tiny underwater nozzles. Two screens display a map of historical events related to rainfall episodes; sometimes of natural origin or tampered by humans. When this controlled events are represented, drops are organised into recognisable patterns. Displuvium aims to demonstrate the link between humans and nature. It illustrates the ease with which it is now possible to reproduce natural phenomena, thanks to technological breakthroughs. However, this installation also reveals the limits of our control over the environment: the failures which dot the sequence remind us that some things are patently beyond our control.