This online conference will explore the stakes of art and art history in the climate crisis.听
In recent years, climate change has become a central issue on the international political agenda, due to the activism of groups such as Extinction Rebellion and the worldwide campaigning of figures such as Greta Thunberg. Yet听the disastrous effects of excessive fossil fuel emissions on the biosphere and听human civilisation have long been understood by scientists, politicians and public figures alike,听and environmental activism is hardly a new phenomenon.听
In this decisive moment for our planet, we need to think critically about who or what听is allowed to听represent the climate crisis. As Chika Unigwe has recently argued, the long-term efforts of climate activists of colour听risk erasure in the western media鈥檚 current promotion of Thunberg.听
Since the emergence of the novel coronavirus, the global economy has been听in a state of partial shutdown听with a reduction of emissions, surely providing an unprecedented opportunity finally to transition to a 鈥榞reener鈥 mode of production.听How can art contribute to this effort, especially in a moment when听many听arts organisations risk permanent closure? As events move online, including this conference, how do we need to rethink accessibility to ensure the widespread dissemination of knowledge?听
We shall consider听the role representation plays in our understanding of听climate, and听ask听why some images of climate activism and environmental disaster might appear and become more alluring, effective and widespread than others. We鈥檒l also explore听迟丑别听particular dialectical听potentials of art in the effort to avert the听catastrophic levels of warming.听Papers will address the work of artists based in Europe, North America,听Australia, Africa听and South East Asia,听and consider the methodological implications听of both artists and art historians in global warming.听
Please join us as we consider what it might mean for art to 鈥榯ell the truth鈥 of the climate crisis.
Organised by Dr Theo Gordon (The 91自拍)听
DAY 1: THURSDAY 25 JUNE听
Opening Remarks听
Panel 1:
Preeti Kathuria听(Vasant Valley School, New Delhi) 鈥 鈥楢ctivism and Response in Contemporary Art: Notes on Rural Distress in India鈥听
Anna Reid (Paul Mellon Centre, London) 鈥 鈥楾he Day is Bright and Open: Lucy Skaer鈥檚 Geological Occasion鈥
Panel 2:听
Lucy听Branchflower听(University of Edinburgh) 鈥 鈥楧efining the Body: Climate Art and Queer Ecology鈥
Grace听Thompson听(University of听East Anglia, Norwich) 鈥 鈥楨cological Participation; Ideas on the Value of an 鈥淥pen鈥 Subjectivity鈥听
BREAK
Panel 3:听
Lisa听Reindorf听(Artist) 鈥 鈥楬ow Artists Follow Sustainable Practices of Art听in a Time of Climate Change鈥听
Mary听Gagler听(The City College of New York) 鈥 鈥楾ime and the Art of Gunybi Ganambarr: Using Found Objects to Depict a Changing Country鈥櫶
Panel 4:听
Maja听Fowkes听and Reuben听Fowkes听(University College London) 鈥 鈥楥limate Migration: Invasive Species in the Political Imaginary鈥听
Lindsay听Wells听(The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York/University of Wisconsin, Madison) 鈥 鈥楽ee and Be Cene: Picturing Planetary Change in Nineteenth-Century British Art鈥
DAY 2: FRIDAY 26 JUNE
Panel 1:听
Laura听Ouillon听(Universit茅听de Paris) 鈥 鈥楿prooted Ghanaian Trees in Trafalgar Square:听Spectres听of Empire and Global Deforestation in Angela Palmer鈥檚 2009听Ghost Forest鈥听
Francesca听Curtis听(University of York) 鈥 鈥楬ere/Now, Everywhere/Always:听Ocean Landmark听and 迟丑别听Spatio-Temporal Conditions of Ecological Breakdown鈥听
Panel 2:
Anna听McLauchlan听(University of Strathclyde, Glasgow) 鈥 鈥楪rappling with听The Glasgow Effect: exploding art world and academic success fantasies鈥听
Giulia Smith (Ruskin School of Art, Oxford) 鈥 鈥楥an Art History Serve Global ecological struggles? A case study between Britain and Guyana鈥听
BREAK听
Panel 3:
Kadambari Baxi, (Columbia University, New York) 鈥 鈥楥limate Dissonance: Loud & Clear and Amplified鈥听
Edward听Christie听(University College London) 鈥 鈥楾owards an Eco-Logical Ontology:听听Mobilising听Agnes Denes鈥櫶Pyramid Series听Against the Climate Crisis鈥听听
Panel 4:听
Emily听Tradd听(King鈥檚 College London) 鈥 鈥楨xamining Art as a Tool for Communicating Climate Change and Eliciting听Behaviour听Change: Psychology, Efficacy, and Utilization in the United Kingdom鈥听
B茅n茅dicte听Ramade听(Universit茅听de Montr茅al) 鈥 鈥楤eyond Representation, Sounds of Climate Change鈥听
Concluding Remarks听
This event is generously supported by the Association for Art History听
