underwater disobedience

wonder where to land, 2021

Hightech Nomad, 2021

NUUN - The Subaquatic Bird of the Atlantic (III), in collaboration with Fallon Mayanja and Sebastian Giussani, 2024

NUUN - The Subaquatic Bird of the Atlantic (II), in collaboration with Fallon Mayanja and Sebastian Giussani, 2024

NUUN - The Subaquatic Bird of the Atlantic (I), in collaboration with Fallon Mayanja and Sebastian Giussani, 2024

soft killer, 2022

Ginga, 2023

“Underwater Disobedience” immerses visitors in an exploration of the profound essence of water, weaving together sculptures, sonic compositions, and collaborative audiovisual creations crafted by the artistic duo of Diogo da Cruz and Fallon Mayanja. Rooted in the philosophical currents of hydrofeminism*, their pieces delve into the interconnectedness of humanity with both fellow beings and the aqueous realms, viewing our bodies as transient vessels for the fluid that shapes our existence, and the Atlantic Ocean as a vast reservoir of collective memory.

Central to the exhibit is an experimental sci-fi film series, weaving together fragments of an afrofuturist saga depicting an underwater civilisation dwelling within the depths of the Atlantic, juxtaposed with reflections on the perils of deep-sea mining. This narrative serves as a reflection on the echoes of colonial atrocities and the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, urging viewers to contemplate a decolonized ecological perspective that challenges the limitations of Western science in addressing climate crises.

Within this evocative universe, da Cruz’s sculptures manifest as possible embodiments of the saga’s protagonists, while Mayanja’s sound installations offer novel avenues for auditory exploration. Amidst this symbiotic convergence of artistry spanning the past three years, the duo unveils their latest creation: NUUN – the Subaquatic Bird of the Atlantic, a collaborative endeavour with Sebastian Giussani. This new sculpture created for the Waterbird Parade at the Water & Sound Festival is a flowing manifestation of the Atlantic Ocean in the winding waterways of Augsburg and invites the audience to reflect on the depths of our interconnected existence.

*a movement that campaigns for the protection of water bodies and against pollution of groundwater, coral reefs and ocean acidification. The idea behind this is that humans are largely made up of water and are therefore connected to all other living creatures, bodies of water and the earth.

loop screening of the films Hydrophilic Bounds (2021) and Deep Sea Rising (2022) by Diogo da Cruz and Fallon Mayanja

Opening performance of Fallon Mayanja with Gerald Odil

Exhibition at Halle 1 – Raum für Kunst im Glaspalast July-September 2024

photos by Constanza Meléndez

Supported by “BBK–Verbindungslinien” with funds from the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts, in cooperation with Water & Sound Festival and Kunstsammlungen & Museen Augsburg

2024