Events

Deep Sea Mining, thinking with the Oceans 

Mekhala Dave, University of the Applied Arts and TBA21-Academy, Vienna 

Tuesday 26 October 5-6.30 UK Time (Online) 

Sussex Art and Law Research Cluster

The vocabulary in the law of the sea convention (LOSC 1982) is reflective of how we treat our oceans: for expedition, prospect, exploitation and exploration. All the terms described relate to deep sea mining, an activity beyond national jurisdiction, that invokes the common heritage principle albeit with deep ‘ownership fantasies’ of humans. I will introduce and discuss the conflicting understanding of deep-sea mining underpinned by narratives framed by the role of the arts and the cultural organisation that is the TBA21-Academy and their past and current commissioned works, that dismantle and re-contextualise what we know of our oceans. Art plays a prominent role from feminist and decolonial approaches that dilute the centrality of narratives of deepsea mining governance which is urgently shapeshifting with Nauru’s 2 year rule coming into force from June 2021. Nauru, a former colony and small Island country in the South Pacific, together with a multi-national company, is pressuring for reforms to regulations from the International Seabed Authority, a UN governing that oversees permits for deep sea mining.

To join please get a ticket here.