Mikrowell is the research, design, and artistic practice of Nicola Canziani and Joël Roth. In addition to our research and artistic practice, we offer graphic design services to clients in the scientific, artistic, and cultural fields.
In our current research project, we are exploring the practice of trading future consequences. A historical example of this is the medieval indulgence system, where individuals could purchase indulgence certificates to obtain forgiveness for their sins and improve their prospects of eternal salvation. This practice allowed moral responsibility to be externalized and transformed into a financial transaction. In today’s world, a comparable phenomenon can be found in the trade of carbon offset certificates, which aim to offset harmful emissions through monetary compensation. However, these modern mechanisms of „trading with the future“ raise fundamental questions about their ethical, scientific, and political legitimacy.
In the framework of our carbon offset certificates, we implement both real and symbolic measures for carbon sequestration. We store wood long-term to prevent the carbon it contains from being released back into the atmosphere and plant trees as a measure to ensure long-term carbon capture. The resulting certificates are offered for sale to interested parties.
Ultimately, our work seeks to provoke reflection on the broader dynamics of responsibility in the context of the climate crisis. Through both practical and symbolic interventions, we challenge the premise that complex ecological and social challenges can be resolved through simple economic mechanisms, urging a reconsideration of how we negotiate our shared future.
Mikrowell (Joël Roth & Nicola Canziani)
Hermetschloostrasse 77
CH-8048 Zurich, Switzerland
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