Alice Smits of Zone2Source is connected to the Institute of Public Art in Qingdao as researcher. The work Of Soil and Water: King’s Cross Pond Club by Ooze (Eva Pfannes & Sylvain Hartenberg) and Marjetica Potrč was recommended by Alice for the 2021 International Award for Public Art. Today, January 14, 2022 this work was announced as one of the seven outstanding examples of public art during an online meeting hosted from Qingdao in China.
Of Soil and Water: King’s Cross Pond Club
Artist: Ooze (Eva Pfannes & Sylvain Hartenberg) and Marjetica Potrč
Location: King’s Cross, London, United Kingdom
Year: 2016
Researcher: Alice Smits
Located on the construction site for the King’s Cross Central development project in London, is a micro-ecological environment with a natural swimming pond at its centre. The temporary available land is transformed into a place where visitors can take a swim next to the aquatic plants that clean the water. The water is purified through a natural, closed-loop process using wetland and submerged water plants. The daily number of bathers is restricted by the amount of water the plants are able to clean. More about this artwork on the IPA website
Institute for Public Art (IPA) was established in response to an urgent need to increase the visibility and dialogue of public art practices internationally. The key aims of IPA are to research and celebrate the contribution of exceptional artists to public art practices, to establish and maintain a global network and to advocate public art. IPA has a large database of public art practices worldwide. Annually it recommends seven artworks for the International Award for Public Art (IAPA) and announces an overall winner.
In 2021 the jury of the IAPA received over 300 nominations for the award. From this the jury selected 7 projects (one from each region). Of Soil and Water: King’s Cross Pond Club was the work Alice has recommended. This work represented the Eurasia region.
Images of the IAPA Award ceremony on 14th January, 2021
