Joana Amora
Artist-gardener
Planting Water
Planting Water, 2025-(ongoing) — Urban agroforest, impact documentary, XR environment, participatory workshops, online platform — Rio de Janeiro, BR
Planting Water is a living, ecosystemic artwork proposing the expansion of an urban agroforestry in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Combining art, agroecology, documentary filmmaking, communication technologies, and community action, the project regenerates microclimates, restores freshwater cycles, and reimagines urban landscapes through collective ecological practices.
Planting Water addresses the climate emergency by planting water as an artistic and political act. The project views plants, soil, microorganisms, and human networks as living materials, creating a vibrant ecological and social sculpture dedicated to life, regeneration, and climate resilience
Preliminary project platfom (temporary research interface, in development): [LINK]
Planting Water film teaser: [LINK]
Early-stage 3D scan of the agroforestry site (research material): [LINK]
Our
Story
My role:
I developed Planting Water from my long-term involvement with the Govz ao Pé da Letra urban agroforest, which I helped create alongside students from different fields. As an artist and agroecology practitioner, I document the people, practices and ecological transformations sustaining the agroforest, while developing participatory workshops, audiovisual works, species mapping and a digital platform for its collective memory.
Community benefit:
The project strengthens the visibility and continuity of a collectively cultivated urban agroforest and the knowledge produced around it. It creates spaces for participation and knowledge exchange, preserves the memories and experiences of those involved, and makes agroecological practices accessible to broader communities. At the same time, the agroforest itself contributes to biodiversity, soil regeneration, water cycles and a more resilient urban microclimate.
