Polish-British artist Kasia Molga spent April and May in Rijeka as part of her residency within the S+T+ARTS4WaterII project, titled Tracing Oil. Uncovering Forgotten Spaces, organized in collaboration with the Port Authority of Rijeka.

In developing her artwork Petroentanglements: How to be Present for Aqualife, Molga explores the complex entanglements between humans, other living beings, and the petrochemical industry, which has been present in this region since the late 19th century. Her research includes diving at various locations across the Rijeka aquatorium, where she observes the underwater world and the ways in which marine organisms are affected by oil spills, pollution, and other human activities. By combining her diving experience with ecological research, she is building a visual database collected in less polluted areas in order to trace the lingering impacts of past oil spills on the marine ecosystem. Locations with higher levels of pollution are investigated with the help of an ROV (remotely operated underwater vehicle), allowing safe data collection from the deeper layers of the seabed.

During her residency, she also gathered stories and perspectives from former and current dock and refinery workers, experts, scientists, and anyone interested in the well-being of Rijeka’s marine environment.

As an opportunity for dialogue with the local community, a round table was organized in collaboration with the Natural History Museum Rijeka on April 16, hosted in the museum’s Botanical Garden. The insights gained through her research will contribute both to the development and training of an AI model designed to detect traces of oil spills caused by human activity, and to the creation of an art installation, which will be premiered in the second half of the year at Filodrammatica Gallery.

STARTS4waterII is co-funded by the European Union under the STARTS – Science, Technology and Arts initiative of DG CNECT (GA no. LC-02629312.). Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or DG CNECT. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Project is co-financed by the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs. The views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of Drugo more and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs.