Rivers, Soil, and Waters: A Cross-Continental Dialogue on Environmental Change

Bangladesh and Europe face similar environmental challenges but from different starting points. In Bangladesh, rivers and soil are the lifeline of people—they shape our food, culture, and survival. But decades of pollution, flooding, and climate change have damaged this relationship. Europe has better protection systems but faces its own challenges with soil health and water quality. They are connected with modern business. Such as fashion industry. 

What we could learn from each other?

To understand the current problem of soil and water, we also need to look back to history and past decisions. Bangladesh will be a reference point to see how long-term pollution, industrial growth, and careless use of rivers and land created today’s crisis. Through a dialogue between Bangladesh and Europe, we will open different perspectives on the same situation. This exchange will help us see not only what is happening now, but also how we arrived here and what other possible futures we can imagine together

This project will compare and connect Bangladeshi and European experiences with river and soil pollution through artistic research. By bringing together two continents with different histories and solutions, we can create new perspectives on how humans relate to water and soil—and what we need to change.

Why This Matters

• Climate change affects everyone. Bangladesh shows what happens when rivers flood and soil degrade. Europe can learn from our struggles, and we can learn from European protection efforts.
• We are all connected. As I saw during COVID-19, problems don't stay in one place. Pollution, disease, and knowledge all travel. This is our "global village."
• Art can change minds. Scientific data is important, but art makes people feel the problem. Film, sound, and installation can show the beauty of rivers and soil—and the pain of losing them.

What We Will Do

Research Focus:

• Document river and soil pollution in Bangladesh (rainy season, flooding, agricultural damage)
• Compare with European soil and water conditions
• Explore cultural relationships: How do farmers, fishers, and communities see nature?
• Question existing policies: What works? What doesn't? What can we learn from each other?

Artistic Outputs:

1. Documentary Film – showing both continents, contrasting destruction and protection
2. Installation Art – immersive experience with sound, video, and natural materials
3. Exhibition – to be shown at film festivals and art studios across Europe and potentially Bangladesh

Knowledge Sharing:

• Bangladesh brings: lived experience of environmental disaster, traditional ecological knowledge, visual richness of rivers and delta landscapes
• Europe brings: policy frameworks, conservation science, sustainable farming practices
• Together: We create a dialogue that goes beyond "developed vs. developing" to show our shared humanity and shared responsibility

Project Timeline

• September 2026 – April 2028 (20 months)
• April 2027: Present work-in-progress at FilmEU_WIRE Summit (Bratislava)
• April 2028: Final exhibition and documentary complete
• Throughout: Field research, filming, collaboration workshops

This is more than a project—it's a conversation between continents about survival, beauty, and our shared future.

Target Application

In 2026, Artis launches interdisciplinary pilot projects of different sizes using artistic research to address one of five Horizon Missions. Selected pilots involving staff and students from all FilmEU institutions will receive seed funding.

All five missions demand new imaginaries, cultural change, and public engagement—areas where artistic research is uniquely powerful. They offer artists the chance to shape the stories, values, and experiences that make transformation possible.

• HM1: Adaptation to Climate Change
• HM2: Cancer
• HM3: Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities
• HM4: Restore Our Ocean and Waters
• HM5: Soil Deal for Europe