Name: What the Water Does
Start: 2025-11-22T11:00:00+00:00
End: 2025-11-22T12:00:00+00:00
Location: Wellcome Collection

Take part in a Japanese Suminagashi water marbling workshop, as part of our Climate Day Takeover.
About this Event

Take part in a Japanese suminagashi water marbling workshop – a practice where ink is gently floated on water and then transferred to paper, creating one-of-a-kind swirling patterns – led by facilitator Rebekah Lindo.

You’ll then compare your handmade creations to suminagashi-inspired designs generated by AI. Both rely on water: in traditional suminagashi, water is essential for marbling, while AI depends on vast amounts of water to cool data centres and power its models, contributing to the ongoing climate crisis. You’ll be invited to reflect on a vital question: what is the better use of water?

About your contributor

Rebekah is a Visitor Experience & Engagement Facilitator at Wellcome Collection. She's interested in exploring the connection between creativity and the self, and has a background in biomedical sciences, and science communication.

Need to know

We’ll be in the Studio on level 1. When you enter Wellcome Collection, head up the stairs or take the lift, then follow the signs.

Booking a ticket for a free, in-person event does not guarantee you a place. You should aim to arrive 15 minutes before the event is scheduled to start to claim your place. If you do not arrive on time, your place may be given to someone on the waiting list.

If this event is fully booked, you may still be able to attend. We will operate a waiting list, which opens 30 minutes before this event starts. Arrive early, and we’ll give you a numbered ticket. If there are any unfilled places just before the start time, we will invite you to enter in order of ticket number.

British Sign Language interpreted

This event will have British Sign Language interpretation.

Relaxed

This is a relaxed event, which means that if you need to, you are welcome to move around and make noise at any time.

For more information, please visit our Accessibility page. If you have any queries about accessibility, please email us at [email protected] or call 020 7611 2222.

Our event terms and conditions

Image: Event in the Wellcome Studio, Photo: Steven Pocock. Source: Wellcome Collection. .