I remember being in a house filled with water. As a pre-teen in 1980's, I witnessed many floods in the city of Bangkok. My parents' home was under water for 2 weeks. Ironically, they had a large sized aquarium in the dining room, which I enjoyed watching and feeding the fish as a child. Although they were freshwater fish, the maintenance and cleaning was a big deal. This experience has inspired me to start my new project "Adaptation: Aquarchitecture."       

Living in Chicago, Illinois, for 16 years, my awareness of today's environmental issues has been exponentially increased. Sea level has been predicted to rise due to the consequences of global warming. Many news reported flood in places below the sea level. While many debates remain in questions regarding the cause and effect of global warming, I am more curious about how we would adapt to this new environment, and my intention to raise an awareness of this crisis. 

I often combine form, space, and life, in my work. As for my background in art, interior design and film, I am determined to explore the idea of architecture or interior space with the characteristics of water, underlining what may happen in the future, consequential to our own human destructive side and how we may adapt to the forthcoming. I am open to experiment this idea in various forms; from writing to drawing and installation, to photography, video and performance art, whichever way that will execute this idea best. A prototype of one of a fish tank design demonstrates the versatile convertibility of a sustainable, as well as healthy and safe environment for us, the fish of the future (picture on right).

If you wish  to collaborate on this project, I would love to hear from you.   

Rujanee Mahakanjana 

November 2, 2010