Cécile Palusinski et Elsa Mroziewicz

New Media

Miami

“Our “Floating Cities” project builds on our previous work, which explores the relationship between humans and nature. It aims to creatively investigate the impact of rising sea levels amidst global population growth, continuous sea-level rise, and threats to ecosystems.”

Who?

We have been working as a duo for over 12 years, currently developing augmented reality sound installations and giant poetic pop-ups that blend art, literature, and knowledge. Our artistic projects focus on exploring the relationship between humans and nature with a poetic and positive approach in a general context of eco-anxiety. Our works also invite audiences into dreamlike worlds with mythological influences.

Through this artistic approach, where AR animations and audio and poetic narration guide the user’s experience, we aim to revive an ancient wisdom: the power of stories in transmitting values and knowledge.

In 2022, we presented a new creation, Arbres-Mondes, which was shortlisted for the Bologna Ragazzi Crossmedia Award, and the giant augmented reality sound pop-up tree, the Baobab, was a finalist for the Meggendorfer ARTIST BOOK 2023 (USA – Movable Book Society). This project is showcased at the Fondation GoodPlanet until the end of 2024 and at various cultural venues and libraries. We also produced an augmented reality sound installation, La Forêt universelle, with the support of the Jan Michalski Foundation, which is currently being shown internationally through the UNLOCK program of the Institut français and raises awareness about endangered animals. Floating Cities continues our previous projects, with a focus on the oceans.

For all our projects, we collaborate with field-based associations.

Elsa MROZIEWICZ is a multidisciplinary visual artist: illustrator, pop-up engineer, director, and author. Her digital art projects combine drawing, animation, digital media, photography, sound content, and XR. She has created numerous animated pop-up artist books, illustrated books, and has been published in France, Germany, and internationally.

Cécile PALUSINSKI is a writer and creator of sound content, focusing on the role of humans in nature. In 2023, she published a book of photographs and poetry about the Socotra dragon’s blood tree (Editions MelrakkI). She places significant emphasis on audio poetry as a form of expression of the living.

What?

Our “Floating Cities” project builds on our previous work, which explores the relationship between humans and nature. It aims to creatively investigate the impact of rising sea levels amidst global population growth, continuous sea-level rise, and threats to ecosystems. Miami faces significant climate challenges, and our project seeks to document and highlight the efforts made by the city and its various stakeholders to address sea-level rise and its consequences. We will meet with founders of companies exploring floating city concepts, aquapreneurs, scientists, architects, philosophers, resident collectives, and policymakers who are directly facing the impacts of rising waters and are working to find solutions. We will document these initiatives from an artistic and literary perspective, focusing particularly on how architecture adapts to rising sea levels and interviewing involved collectives and stakeholders to give a voice to these efforts that showcase Miami’s resilience and creativity in the face of climate change.

This research will subsequently lead to the creation of a monumental augmented reality soundscape, in anticipation of the UN Oceans Conference 2025.

Where?

The rise in sea levels due to climate change is one of the major challenges humanity faces today. While this threat affects the entire planet, the United States is in a particularly concerning situation with many vulnerable coastal metropolises. In this context, South Florida presents itself as a critical case study, a true “patient zero” for sea level rise. At the heart of this issue is Miami.

Miami is not only dubbed “the flagship for climate change impacts,” but it is also ranked as the second city in the world in terms of capital exposed to sea-level rise risks. With an average altitude of just 104 centimeters above sea level, Miami-Dade is extremely vulnerable. The limestone that makes up the region contains cavities filled with freshwater, and the South Florida Water Management District, the largest water management system in the world, constantly struggles to maintain a balance between freshwater and saltwater. Furthermore, the rising water table, coupled with more intense rainfall and septic tank overflow, complicates the situation even further.

During our residency, we plan to meet with various local stakeholders, including academics and community groups. We will also visit neighborhoods affected by rising waters.

Newsletters