Representations of Atlantic coastal marshlands protection: science and art mixed views

Abstract

In a context of rising sea levels, the relationship between humans and the coastline is studied through the role played by seawalls using a sensitive and cognitive approach. The collection of artistic and scientific materials focused on three coastal marshes in Charente-Maritime: the Fier d'Ars marsh (Île de Ré), the Tasdon marsh (City of La Rochelle) and the Moëze-Brouage marsh (south of Rochefort). The representation of the seawalls is at the heart of the artistic-scientific work by allowing us to observe in a different way the place that human leaves to nature in his developments. Indeed, the seawalls illustrate our relationship to the world, grasped with its strengths and weaknesses: to raise walls to protect themselves from marine submersions or to let nature return by letting the walls collapse. These investigations were completed by a reflection in terms of environmental ethics. The relationship to nature and the representations associated with it guide the discourse as well as the actions and decisions to protect or conserve natural elements that are considered sensitive, or even irreplaceable. This perspective also leads us to question the spatial and temporal dimensions that shape the marshes, that delimit them and that border them by raising physical boundaries with seawalls.