TREASURES OF THE SEA
 

Concept created at Umeå University with a focus on problems with climate change and the global goals 14 life underwater and 6 clean water and sanitation through the eyes of a little mermaid and her curated collection of curious objects.
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The consistent theme of the exhibition is the story of the Little Mermaid and the climate problems she faces. Inspired by Walt Disney's interpretation of the classic story by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, the Little Mermaid is a collector of objects she finds in the sea and on beaches. Albeit in a somewhat more updated and dystopian version, the exhibition allows the visitor to follow the mermaid's perspective on the environmental problems in the sea.

The mermaid's cultural history collection contains objects from the entire Anthropocene period (approx. late 17th-19th century to the present) as human activities from the industrial revolution until now that affect the earth's climate, ecosystems and global warming. The visitor gets to experience the little mermaid's private collection of objects curated from her perspective where, for example, a fork has been given a new function as a comb. Her collection of objects consists of everything from paintings, glass and cutlery she found in old shipwrecks to plastic and waste dumped or leaked into the sea sprinkled with pearls she found in oysters and clams. The focus is on life under water but also takes us on a journey up to the surface where she looks out over rubbish-covered beaches.

The exhibition concept was based on the global goal of clean water and sanitation for all. I chose it because clean water should be a self-evident right for everyone, but it is also a necessity and a basic condition for the planet and the well-being of various life forms. Whether it concerns people, animals or nature, the lack of clean water is a global problem. The world's energy production and food production are dependent on water and can therefore become a cause of conflict, both within and between countries. The lack of water affects people living in poverty as well as causes an unhealthy environment and puts people at risk of disease. In addition to the global goal, I have worked with the watchwords sustainability, future, inspiration and well-being and with Agenda 2030 in mind. They are present throughout the exhibition and culminate in the exhibition's program activities.

The exhibition focuses on life in the sea and the importance of water for life. The exhibition takes the visitor on a journey through cultural-historical objects that connect with today's climate problems. The intention of the exhibition is to encourage the visitor to understand the problems with pollution such as industries, waste, oil and toxic emissions as well as microplastics and algal blooms.

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The global goals. http://www.globalamalen.se/om-globala-malen/mal-6-rent-vatten-och-sanitet/