In the time we are living in, where ever on the globe we might be, the effects of climate change are visible and becoming more evident every year, from the growing number of forest fires in California to the growing intensity of cyclones in the bay of Bengal, in India and Bangaladesh.
In the past some of effort in the field of climate art and design was to convince people of climate change, now we have moved past that. Some of the climate art and design untill now has also reduced the complexity of the climate crisis to a single motif of a polar bear or a fixed number of the amount of temperature rise.
The reality of climate change is far more complex and messy. There is a plethora of scintific literature on the subject and its growing at a rapid pace. But the complexity of this data often makes it difficult to comprehend for the general audience. This is a challenge that art and design are very well equipped to to take on. Its also one of the most important challenge we will face in the coming time.
How could we connect the people with climate crisis in a meaningful way, where there is enough information that leaves people with an understanding of the reality, but not too much data that leaves people confused and overwhelmed, where the gravity of the situation is communicated without it leading to a sense of hopelessness or doom?
Through this talk, I would like to make an argument for making expressive art and design to communicate the data about climate change in a way that educates people about the complexity and interconnectedness of systems in nature. I believe there is great opportunity and potential for designers and artists to work with climate data and create visualizations, artefacts and expereiences that create climate literacy and fosters dialogue around climate change.
In the talk I would like to present inspiring and relavent examples from the work by other artists and designers from various parts of the globe. I would also like to share my learnings and insights from working on climate change and data sculptures. I would like to bring together insights gained from conversations with experts in environmental science, art and social justice.
