Marjolijn Dijkman interviewed Xandra van der Eijk, Christiane Bosman and Pietro Consoliandi about their involvement with the Confluence of European Waterbodies. As ‘creative frontiers’, they share what artistic initiatives and methods can add to the unfolding conversation around nature conservation.

Abstract: The Confluence of European Water Bodies, initiated by the Embassy of the North Sea, ILP Mar Menor, and TBA21–Academy, has grown into a network of over 30 European rivers, seas, lakes, glaciers, and lagoons since 2023. It brings together artists, activists, and researchers to push for water ecosystems to be recognized as legal, cultural, and political actors within democracy. Rooted in the “Rights of Nature” framework, the movement advocates for a fundamental shift away from viewing nature as property, toward a more relational and representative approach. The initiative explores and embodies new ways to effectively represent water, raising fundamental questions about who decides, who speaks, and how rights are enforced in a world still dominated by human-centered systems. This conversation explores how art plays a crucial role in this shift by creating an emotional, cultural, and philosophical space for change.

Find the open-source journal and downloadable version of the article here.