In connection with the exhibition ‘Surface Tension’, Alexander Groves and Azusa Murakami of the internationally acclaimed Studio Swine will discuss their work using water, demonstrating how combining water conservation with art engages the public with water scarcity and creates a connection to something commonly overlooked.

“Water infrastructure is often hidden, flowing in pipes behind our walls and beneath our feet, from distant reservoirs and aquifers to waste processing plants. Where it comes from and where it goes is out of sight out of mind. Historically this wasn’t the case. With aqueducts and fountains delivering water into cities, a synthesis of engineering and fine art gave water a symbolic significance as a source of life and central to urban life.”

Following the talk, art and design expert Catherine Osborne (former Editor of Azure Magazine) will host a Q&A with Groves and Murakami.

Studio Swine (Super Wide Interdisciplinary New Explorers) is an art collective established in 2011 by Alexander Groves (UK) and Azusa Murakami (Japan). Their work straddles between the spheres of sculpture, installations and cinema, blending poetry and research into immersive experiences. The studio adopts an unique approach to each work, drawing on the distinctive resources and vernacular aesthetic of its cultural, historic and economic landscape. Professional training in art and architecture allows the studio to bridge rich and emotional narratives with rigorous technical and spatial awareness.

Studio Swine’s films have been awarded at Cannes and other film festivals around the world and their work have been widely exhibited at institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Pompidou Centre in Paris, and the Venice Art and Architecture Biennales.

This talk is organized by DesignTO, and co-presented with Harbourfront Centre and the Toronto Society of Architects. It is generously supported by the British Council, and media partner Azure Magazine.

Image credits: courtesy of Studio Swine, portrait by Bruno Staub