The power of art in creating a just ecological transition
December 22, 2022
By engaging with audiences, artists have the unique opportunity to educate on the importance of sustainability, encourage dialogue around key topics, and raise awareness about current environmental issues. In this sense, art has a unique power to create positive change and help build a just transition towards a more sustainable economy.
Environmental and nature photographer James Balog explained this in perhaps the clearest terms in his TED Talk: whereas art looks at the world through the psyche, emotion, the unconscious, and the aesthetic, science looks at the world through the rational, the quantitative, and that which can be measured. “When one brings those two parts of human understanding together — that is, merging art and science — its result has the end of helping us all better understand nature, and humanity’s relationship to it.”
Through art, artists can help bring to light the climate challenges that communities face by creating art that speaks directly to issues such as climate justice and environmental degradation. One artist that has been particularly successful in this regard is the late Kenyan environmentalist and artist, Wangari Maathai. Her artwork often focused on the importance of conservation and tree planting, which she famously used to establish the Greenbelt Movement — a grassroots non-profit organization that helped communities restore their local environment. Another artist that has taken this approach is the Swiss-born Klaus Littmann, who created a series of large-scale installations such as The Unending Attraction of Nature, which turned an Austrian football stadium into a forest of 300 trees.
Art can also be used as an effective tool to draw attention to social and political issues associated with climate change. Through visual storytelling techniques like illustrations or photographs, filmmakers and photographers can share powerful stories that communicate the urgency of taking action. One artist that has been successful in doing this is the French photographer, Yann Arthus-Bertrand. In addition to creating the Fondation Good Planet, his photographs have been used to draw attention to the impact of climate change on different parts of the world. Equally, Spanish-born artist Cristina Iglesias has used her work to explore the relationship between humans and nature by creating large-scale installations that focus on the environment.
Additionally, installations and performances can provide physical experiences that bring people into direct contact with nature in order to spark deeper discussions about our relationship with the environment. One artist that has taken this approach is the Swedish contemporary artist, Mika Taanila. His multimedia installation Living with Machines, for example, featured a series of robotic sculptures that were programmed to respond to human presence and convey environmental messages such as conservation and pollution.
In addition, various community-based artistic and education initiatives have used art to engage with local communities and bring the message of just transition and sustainability closer to home. Community art projects, such as the Better World movement in Brazil, have created museums in open spaces, incorporating graffiti, fine arts and music in defense of a common environmental cause, such as the Amazon. In industrial towns in Sicily, students are working with Italian energy company Enel to brighten up city streets and power plant walls with murals inspired by local tradition and the importance of renewable energy. French association Alive! Art Creativity & Climate Change works to promote the potential of art and education to inspire the transition to a more sustainable society.
The use of art as a form of activism is also becoming more widespread — from virtual exhibitions to public murals, artists are finding innovative ways to engage with the public and make their voices heard. By showing how art can be used to support just transitions towards sustainable economies, more people can become aware of the power of art in the ecological transition. For example, the works of muralists like Shepard Fairey demonstrate how powerful visual art can be in communicating complex ideas simply and effectively, encouraging viewers to think critically about the world they live in. Brazilian street artist Swoon has also used her artwork to spread awareness about the urgency of fighting climate change.
Art can also be used to spark action and partnerships around just transition towards a more sustainable future. In Latin America, for example, the Green Art Lab Alliance has supported the development of art-related projects that assist in just transition by raising awareness about sustainable practices and encouraging community participation. Equally, in India, the Nature Conservation Foundation has also used art and design to educate local people on issues such as water scarcity, air pollution and renewable energy. On the tech side, the platform Tree Nation, which has resulted in over a million trees being planted, now also features art that can be offered along with gifted trees.
Artists have the power to connect people with the environment through creativity and innovation — ultimately creating a more just and equitable transition towards a sustainable economy. By integrating the concepts of just transition into their artwork, they can help inspire action on environmental issues and create opportunities for dialogue and community engagement.
CPM
