Porto Santo, July 2023, Autobiographic Description that led to the Fabulation Process.

Inspiration (Figures 0, 1) and choosing a point of view (Figure 2) lead to noticing, indexing (Figures 2,3), fabulation (Figure 3), and turning the fabulation into affirmative and positive worlding (Figures 3, 4).

Returning to the island one year later (in 2023), the beach's landscape has changed dramatically. The stones that covered the beach the year before are gone. Instead, an invasion of sargasso seaweeds has changed the beach's connotations. We wonder what brings these seaweeds all across the Atlantic Ocean since they are typical of the Caribbean seas. With the seaweeds come small animals and bacteria that are likely to affect the local biodiversity.

We reflect on the changes in temperature, currents, and climate change effects in general. The wind has changed and now blows predominantly from west to east. It is clear how planes now fly in the opposite direction from how they used to. The wind blowing from east to west might have pushed seaweeds across the oceans to the Atlantic shores of Europe and Africa.

Figure 0: Pictures of the Beach full of Seaweeds

We start noticing the sargasso all over the beach and the different patterns of seaweed and seeds it leaves on the beach as the tides rise and fall.

Figure 1: Sketching and Shared Noticing

We notice the interrelation between man-made structures and nature; they meet and bleed into each other in the coastal regions.

Figure 2: Sketching and Noticing Sargasso 1

We notice that the seagulls come to feed on the Sargasso. After close noticing we hypothesize they eat the tiny crabs traveling with the Sargasso. Where do these crabs come from? Where does the sargasso come from, and why does it get to these shores?

Figure 3: Sketching and Collaborative Noticing

Then, we changed our Point of view on the beach and the Bay. We went near the port and captured views in both directions—towards the port (Figure 5) and the town (Figure 6). We were still raising questions and curiosities about the Sargasso seaweed invasion

Figure 4: Sketching and Noticing Sargasso in Black and White