At Space OneZ, Brazilian artist Jota Mombaça presents drowning is not a poem, but it's not not a poem either, a newly commissioned sound installation for the Busan Biennale 2026.

Mombaça approaches the sea not simply as part of the natural world, but as a living presence that carries its own voice and knowledge. The work began with underwater sounds the artist recorded while sailing off the coast of Busan using a hydrophone. These recordings later became the starting point for a series of workshops with the Yeongdo-gu Women's Choir and Poema Artcenter, whose members responded to the sounds of the sea with their own voices, becoming part of the work itself.

As audiences move through the installation, sound, light, and textiles dyed in seawater bring the voices of the sea and people together within a shared space. Rather than inviting us to speak to the sea, Mombaça encourages us to listen carefully to what the sea might be saying to us.

The exhibition venue itself is also an essential part of the installation. Once a warehouse used to store maritime equipment, it has been transformed into a place where the voices of the sea, people, and the natural world coexist. This work has no fixed beginning or end. The sound is presented on a continuous loop, revealing different layers depending on how long you choose to stay. Take a moment to slow down, look around, and listen carefully. You may begin to notice sounds and resonances that were not apparent at first.