Barakaldo is hosting Pollution Pods from 13 June, an impactful installation by British artist Michael Pinsky that enables visitors to feel the effects of air pollution firsthand. The initiative is part of the programme launched by BBK to celebrate its 10th anniversary as a Banking Foundation, within its strong commitment to environmental sustainability and the fight against climate change.
The installation consists of five interconnected geodesic domes that recreate the air quality of different cities around the world —Tautra, London, New Delhi, São Paulo and Beijing— through variations in temperature, humidity, smell, and levels of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. The experience begins in the clean, fresh air of Tautra (Norway) and gradually moves into increasingly polluted environments.
These “pollution capsules” are the outcome of Climart, an international four-year research project exploring how art can shape public perception of the climate crisis and encourage social action. Its goal is to deepen understanding of environmental issues and their impact on everyday life through artistic immersion.
After touring several European cities, Pollution Pods now arrives in Barakaldo. The installation will be open to the public at Herriko Plaza from 14 to 22 June. It will then travel to BBK Klima, in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, where it will form part of the BBK Klima Aventura offer between 3 July and 31 August.
For BBK, the project is an innovative way to bring environmental challenges closer to the public.
During the presentation, Nora Sarasola, BBK’s Director of Social Action, stressed that “our commitment to environmental sustainability in Bizkaia —and across the planet— is firm. The future depends on the decisions we make today to protect it.” She added: “As we celebrate our tenth anniversary as a Foundation, we want to continue promoting the sustainable development of our territory through initiatives that engage people and inspire new ways of relating to the planet.”
The project has been made possible through the involvement of Artingenium Art Office, which, in coordination with the artist’s team, BBK, and local institutions, oversaw the installation’s full production and management.
