Carbon Capture: “Let there be cracks.” A Conversation between Marjolijn Dijkman and Oliver Ressler

While growing carbon emissions cause the climate crisis, and international agreements aim to lower emissions to restore climate resilience, fossil companies are developing ways to extract oil and gas ‘“sustainably” with the help of geoengineering projects like carbon capture and storage (CCS). The Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM), 67 km north of Bergen in Norway, is the world’s largest testing facility for industrial-scale carbon capture technology. Oliver Ressler’s film, "Carbon and Captivity," produced in 2020 at the TCM site, explores the intricacies of CCS technology against the backdrop of climate activism and restoration. The film's structure, incorporating multiple perspectives and a poetic-political narration, aims to raise awareness and inspire action amidst the urgency of the climate crisis. Oliver Ressler is an artist and filmmaker known for exploring social, political, and environmental issues. This conversation focuses on Ressler's artistic practice, which often intersects with activism and explores themes such as climate breakdown. He critiques the shortcomings of CCS technology, highlighting its energy-intensive nature and potential for leakage, advocating instead for a shift towards clean energy solutions.