Otterdam workshop
The floating artist garden Theun Karelse built in Amstelpark called Otterdam was inspired by the return of the otter to Amsterdam after 50 years of absence. It’s aim is not to be a space designed for otters. In other words it doesn’t start from a classic ecological conservation standpoint where the otter is a ‘target species’, that we humans as more powerful and more intelligent beings can shape a suitable world for. Otterdam is more based on a relational idea, it celebrates the return of the otter as an iconic wetland animal during a period of unprecedented drought in Europe. The otter as a messenger, carrying wisdom that may be valuable also to humans.