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AUB Senior Lecturer traces history and h...

16/07/2026

AUB Senior Lecturer traces history and hydrology in new collaborative art project

A new collaborative art project, launched at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museo Nacional in Madrid, explored the intersection of climate science, governance and the arts by documenting the hydrological transformation of the region north of Valencia.

Developed in response to the catastrophic floods that hit the area in 2024, this project is a collaborative effort. It brings together Harry Meadows (Senior Lecturer on BA (Hons) Fine Art at Arts University Bournemouth), the Spanish TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary, and the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), which facilitated the initiative.

Since January 2026, a multidisciplinary team has been conducting extensive fieldwork in the affected Spanish territories. The resulting artwork is designed to act as a vessel for ‘climate stories’, tracing the movement of water through the landscape and examining the lasting impact of extreme weather events on local communities and ecosystems.

A group of seven people standing on a rocky area beside a riverbank. They are arranged in a semi-circle, with greenery and a blue sky dotted with clouds in the background.

A person wearing a black and white checked shirt sits on a stone wall by the water, sketching in a notebook. A black bag is beside them, with tall grass and trees visible in the background.

A sketch in a notebook illustrating a conceptual design for a tree-like structure with written notes. The design includes a sturdy trunk, branches, and a flat platform, alongside annotations describing features like a net and access for children.

A group of filmmakers working outdoors. One man holds a microphone while wearing headphones, and another man operates a camera. Two women stand nearby, and trees and a vehicle are visible in the background.

A digital landscape featuring a clear blue sky above a vast green field, bordered by mountains in the background. An overlay shows a rectangular image of a cloudy sky with grey tones, positioned centrally above the landscape.

A winding dirt path traverses a hilly landscape dotted with abstract shapes in various colours, including red and pale grey. The sky above is partly cloudy, creating a scenic view of the natural surroundings.

An illustrated landscape depicting a historic hydrological system. The image shows mountains in the background, with clouds and rain depicted above, and outlined arrows indicating water flow in a wavy pattern across a green hillside.

A group of nine individuals posing together outside a building with large windows and balconies. They are dressed in black attire, with some wearing lighter shades. The background features brick walls and potted plants.

The project distinguishes itself by integrating rigorous art research with the fields of science, finance, and regional governance. By synthesising these diverse sectors, the initiative aims to provide a more holistic understanding of environmental crises and the resilience required to navigate them.

Harry utilised his specialised methodology, Codec Imaginary, to underpin the project. This framework explores the role of imagination as a central actor in practices of ecological encoding, creating vital new partnerships between artists, local communities, and industry stakeholders.

“We are developing a prototype that not only reflects the physical traces of water, but also the human narratives entwined with the changing climate," says Harry.

A prototype of the work, developed from initial fieldwork, was presented at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museo Nacional in Madrid this summer.

The exhibition follows a social media campaign launched by TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Contemporary Art Foundation, which offered a first look at the research and development phases of the project.

Further details regarding the July presentation and the ongoing research can be found on Critical Zone Observatory's website and on Vimeo.