Name: Walk to the bottom of the sea
Start: 2024-06-15T11:00:00+01:00
End: 2024-06-15T14:30:00+01:00
Location: Woolston

Join an artist-led walk to the bottom of the sea, where we'll collectively walk the distance to the deepest part of the ocean.
About this Event

Join artist Emma Critchley's walk to the bottom of the sea, where we'll collectively walk the distance to the deepest part of the ocean.

With guests: author Philip Hoare, Marine ecologist Jon Copley, Marine researcher Fiona Middleton & Free-diver Liv Philip.

Location: Woolston and Hamble Coastal Path

Meeting point: TBC

Length of walk: 7 miles / 2 hrs (approximately 3 ½ hrs with stops)

Level of walk: easy

What to bring: Please bring a packed lunch

With the imminent prospect of deep-sea mining, this has become the new frontier of extractivism and how we imagine, portray and talk about the deep ocean becomes fundamental to how we govern it.

The deepest part of the ocean, the Mariana Trench is approximately 7 miles deep. While this does not seem far on land, the deep-sea remains remote to most, both physically and perceptually. With this distance in mind, artist Emma Critchley is hosting a public walk to the bottom of the sea, to explore different ways we might find a connection with the deep. As we reach significant depth milestones along the way, invited speakers will give interventions, which will be provocations for conversation as we walk.

The walk intends to create a space for discussion about the way in which we think about and might care for the deep; it responds to the current issue of deep-sea mining and the impact mining the seabed would have on the delicate ecosystem of the ocean.

Please note: All members of the public who participate in the event will be filmed & audio recorded by the artist and the material collected may form part of Emma Critchley’s film installation to be exhibited at John Hansard Gallery and Tate St Ives 2025. Please only register to take part if you are comfortable with this.

There is a short follow up session after the event (over zoom) to gather participant feedback and reflections. If you do not wish to take part in this, please let us know on the day.

Please note: If the forecast is for heavy rain or high winds this event will be postponed.