Abstract

The construction of the MOSE gates in the Venice Lagoon, designed to prevent flooding, has unintentionally disrupted the ecosystem’s balance. By blocking natural sediment flow, MOSE has altered hydrodynamics and impacted salt marshes and the species that rely on them, raising questions about resource distribution, ecological privilege, and the consequences of human-centered infrastructure. This more-than-human fabulation speculates on the long-term social, economic, and political impacts of such ecological disruptions. By amplifying the voice of marginalized non-human entities, the interactive installation provokes public debate on power dynamics in resource allocation, challenging existing governance models and advocating for ecologically attuned, regenerative lifestyles. Through embodied interaction—using weight redistribution and audio-visual modulation—Ripples makes resource imbalances tangible, allowing people to experience privilege and scarcity. Interacting with Ripples prompts reflection on governance, tourism, and urban planning, questioning anthropocentric sustainability models and revealing how society might transform ecological change into opportunities for adaptive coexistence.