Under the sea: Dutch Water Board takes visitors under a submerged nation

Waterlicht (Waterlight), which ran from 26 February to 1 March 2015, is an experience that visitors have compared to seeing the great aurora borealis (Northern Lights) transported to the floodplains of IJssel.

Created in collaboration with the Dutch Water Board for Rhine and IJssel, Waterlicht was commissioned to raise awareness about the importance of the nation’s flood defences.

As well as holding an eerie similarity to one of the world’s natural wonders, Waterlicht enabled intrepid visitors to don their wellies and venture into the flood basin, where they were submerged beneath a sea of iridescent blue waves, a virtual flood, according to artist Daan Roosegaarde.

Spanning more than four acres, the installation was an immersive and striking reminder of the Anthropocene conquering nature, and a warning should the nation’s dikes fail.

For more on the the synthesis of technology and nature raising awareness about the Anthropocene, book a place at our Spring/Summer 2015 Trend Briefing, The Age of the Long Near. Contact Alena Joyette for more information.