Waters of Belonging

Our identity is often linked to land, memory, and borders. However, our daily lives—particularly our food culture—are built on interdependence that transcends national borders. Since water is essential for the production of all food, this project conducts design research that uses “water” to visualize the contradiction of the concept between interdependence among nations and “local.” I draw on the concept of “hydrosocial territories” in political ecology, proposed by Wageningen University & Research in 2016. According to this concept, a territory is not a natural geographical division but rather something formed through the process of controlling and managing water. Utilizing this concept, this project visualizes not the physical movement of water—where it comes from—but rather who decides that “this water belongs to us” and on what basis. By doing so, I aim to help visitors understand that highly ambiguous definitions such as “territory,” “identity,” and “belonging” are shaped by the interplay of multiple factors, including administrative, economic, and cultural influences. By treating “water” as a new unit representing local food and, by extension, our sense of belonging, this exhibition aims to present the idea that “territory is NOT about a boundary, but about a relationship.”