Learning from Poulati

“Learning from Poulati” is a site-specific installation exploring water as both a cultural memory and a contemporary ecological challenge. Presented in two parts in the central square of Apollonia, Sifnos, from 23 July to 5 September 2022, the project examines the relationship between the island’s traditional water practices and the growing pressures of climate change, tourism, and water scarcity.

The installation brings historical knowledge into dialogue with the present through a large-scale topographic model of the Poulati landscape. Animated projections transform the physical terrain into a living map, revealing the movement of water across the landscape, seasonal flows, and the fragile balance between geology, climate, and human intervention. Alongside this landscape visualization, a second installation displays real-time data from Sifnos’ three primary municipal water reservoirs, translating the island’s hidden water infrastructure into a public, continuously changing indicator of water availability. By exposing information that is normally inaccessible, the project recalls the openness of Poulati’s communal cisterns while inviting residents and visitors alike to reflect on their own patterns of consumption.

The installation was developed as part of the S+T+ARTS4Water residency programme by DECA Architects Collective and was fabricated by decode fab lab through CNC milled PVC. Bringing together artistic practice, environmental research, digital technology, and local knowledge to foster new conversations around water security and climate adaptation.