Swissnex Window #10, Converging Waters – Kumo, Kawa, Kōri, presented in collaboration with the artists-in-labs program of Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and the Consulate of Switzerland in Osaka, brought together Japanese artist AKI INOMATA and Swiss artist Marcel Rickli. Amid the accelerating climate crisis, their works explored water in its many forms—cloud, river, and ice—while inviting us to reflect on the contradictions of our time: urgency and paralysis, knowledge and inaction, persisting beauty and irreversible loss.

At the heart of both artistic practices lies a deep engagement with technology, not as a ready-made solution but as a tool for reflection, interpretation, and care. Visitors were encouraged to witness the transformation of our planet with both intellect and senses, and to reconsider humanity’s place within Earth’s fragile cycles. The exhibition was complemented by an opening event, a conference, and a curator-led master class, creating multiple opportunities for dialogue around art, science, and sustainability.

As part of the exhibition, a special conference explored the question: How can art and science become a node for change? Artists AKI INOMATA and Marcel Rickli; scientists Prof. Dr. Gabriela Schaepman-Strub (UZH), Michael Döring (ZHAW), and Dr. Keigo Nakamura (PWRI); as well as curators Irène Heidiger and Flurin Fischer from the artists-in-lab program (ZHdK), reflected on urgent issues such as river restoration, Arctic ice loss, and how art can reframe technology as a space for reflection and care.

Through transdisciplinary and transcultural exchanges, the discussion highlighted how bridging disciplines such as art and science not only deepens our understanding of complex challenges but also helps us imagine innovative pathways toward more sustainable futures.