here-NO-W-here first encounters...

Since starting to envision this project I wanted to try to see the "invisible". The aim of this project is to explore the relationship between human being, place and water, therefore I felt I had to work at different levels of perception and belief. Traditions and science collide in this pseudoscience named as dowsing which I chose to begin this project. Dowsing is a technique employed in attempts to locate ground water (and others).  It is considered a type of divination looking to "answer questions" by some sort of form of ritual. 

Climate change is widely known and scientifically proven, however, still the majority of the people don't believe in it unless of a close experience in a gradual change of weather patterns. The weather has always been continuously shifting, however, the huge change in the last few years can't be denied. The level of uncertainty in the future weather patterns creates the need and/or belief to adjust our practices and traditions, specially in the most vulnerable: the rural areas. These areas are and will be the most fragile environments to climate changes specially considering our relationship to water. 

Having worked with climate change and water in the UK related to the problematic of flooding, I found Vistabella del Maestrazgo a very appealing and interesting context to work from/for as it seems to be the opposite. Rainfall data and local testimonies show how much the rain has decreased in the last years and how much this area is vulnerable in relation to water. 

The use of dowsing rods in the late 18th century