The Relative Naive, 2017 – 2019
Dehumidifier, humidifier, pet bottles
Dimensions variable

The Relative Naive is a mechanic device for climate stabilisation that works through condensation and mist dispersal. Water is contained in a bottle attached to an apparatus for humidity extraction, representing a closed circuit. This witty prototype geo-engineering scale model, while underlining the absurdity of climatised spaces, represents the artificial conditions of conservation archives. It leaves the space with 50% humidity, providing an atmospheric relief in the gallery given the arrival of the rainy season. Directly addressing the urban planning efficiency systems and new thermodynamic strategies of cities, The Relative Naive reminds us that climate control comes from a position of fake neutrality, a class discriminatory attempt to erase discomfort for some, while creating other sorts of entropic responses. At the same time, the state of cool naiveté whispered by the alpine landscape on the logo of the Evian bottles does not exclude the cruel economy of bottled natural resources in an era of increased nature patenting.