Curator: Ioana Cobzaru (NL-RO).

With the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Romania.

Over the past decade, environmental issues have been the central focus of Henri Blommers’ artistic practice. This collection of images is drawn from a series of projects in which he explores and visualises the effects of climate change, industrial farming, and his own role as both a consumer and gardener in relation to nature.

Blommers replicates the processes of climate change by subjecting film to unconventional treatments: immersing it in hot water infused with extracts of invasive species, spraying fertiliser on developed film, and using anti-weed chemicals during development. In Switzerland, he collaborated with the local community, seeking their guidance on areas where biodiversity was under threat. Following local advice, he took water samples from locations with high levels of Roundup contamination, incorporating these into his creative process.

One of the pressing issues he highlights is salinisation, a process that reduces soil fertility. Already, 20 per cent of the world’s agricultural land is affected, forcing farmers to cultivate alternative crops. This problem stems from monoculture practices, climate change, and the persistent presence of fertilisers and pesticides that accumulate in the soil.

Blommers also draws attention to possible solutions for regenerating nature: establishing field margins around farms, creating interconnected landscapes, reducing pesticide use, adopting composting practices, transitioning towards plant-based diets, improving environmental education in schools and modifying crops to withstand the challenges brought about by climate change.

This body of work serves as a reflection on the complex and urgent environmental challenges facing the world today, while also gesturing towards potential paths forward.