The Bergen-based Canadian marine biologist Karin Pittman, and the Berlin-based Chilean artist Michelle-Marie Letelier pursue the question as to what extent a lack of empathy stands in the way of successfully fighting climate change. In their project, they explore the “geopolitical consequences of salmon—a so-called natural resource—used as a neo-colonial instrument by people from the global North in the global South.”

This is precisely the problem: salmon is not native to the southern hemisphere, yet it is farmed there for the global market.

These and other matters are addressed in the interactive theatrical performance Salm Ethos, which is based on a true story concerning a Norwegian researcher, illustrating the interconnectedness of humans and the environment. For this, Letelier proposed an exploration of bioplastics, integrating algae and other ‘resources’ for the production of the costumes and installation.

Salm Ethos has been produced by Michelle-Marie Letelier & Karin Pittman for the exhibition Experimental Ecology – Art x Science in Dialogue–curated by Martina Huber and Gianni Jetzer–in cooperation with Reactor Basel and Bio Design Lab/HfG Karlsruhe. 

Link for trailer here

Link for website (in German) here

• Concept: Michelle-Marie Letelier & Karin Pittman
• Script: Roland Suter
• Direction: Sandra Moser
• Production: Reactor Basel
• Costume design: Eva Butzkies
• Actors: Christian Heller, Michael Fuchs, Marie-Louise Hauser, Martin Hahnemann, Ursina Gregori, Sarah Bürge
• Moderators: Nina Halpern (2023), Tiziana Sarro, Ruth Widmer (2024)
• Project managers Reactor: Nina Halpern (2023), Pamina Rottok (2024)
• Sound design: David Rehorek
• Technical support: Michael Kempf
• Costume production: Michelle-Marie Letelier, Rita Andrulyte, Eva Butzkies, Julia Ihls
• Project manager Bio Design Lab HfG Karlsruhe: Julia Ihls
• Light design: Ursula Degen (KBH.G, 2023), David Rehorek (Filter4, 2024)
• Photography: Ingo Höhn