Activist works
If activism consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived greater good, then all our environmental art could be called activism.
Some of our art is more direct than others. The activist works here were made consciously to advocate for change in systems that are demonstrably harmful to life.
Cold Facts on Bottled Water
Ice cast in a single-serve plastic water bottle was relabelled incorporating factual information about the effects of the worldwide consumption of bottled water. This is a play on the idea that while messages abound encouraging unsustainable consumption the facts speak for themselves.
Bottled water is an example of an unnecessary consumer product system that destroys living systems. - Earth Policy Institute
The Sky is Broken
Things are not always what they seem. These are not holes in the sky but patterns on the frozen surface of a lake, seen from a cliff above.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere passed the threshold of 420 parts per million (PPM), according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. PPM is a unit of measurement used to quantify pollution in the atmosphere. The safe considered level is 350 parts per million.
Body of Evidence
Ice cores from Antarctic scientific research programme were placed on the sea ice of McMurdo Sound in the shape of a human figure. An overnight snow storm deposited snow which clung to the ice cores, completing the sculpture.
Ice cores drawn from Greenland, Antarctica, and tropical mountain glaciers show that Earth's climate responds to changes in greenhouse gas levels. Ancient evidence can also be found in tree rings, ocean sediments, coral reefs, and layers of sedimentary rocks. - IPCC
Rising or Falling
In this work a waterfall is pictured upside down.
The issues that are featured are not isolated problems, they are all interconnected and can only be solved by understanding the relationships between them and approaching them holistically. Dysfunctional interconnected systems lead to failure and collapse.
Burning Issues video
This dystopian video was made using still images in 2012. The sculpture of a figure was made from dry strands of snow grass and installed in an alpine tarn at dusk and set on fire.
The world’s scientists have repeatedly warned the governments and people of the world that if we do not alter our operating principles to eliminate carbon emissions and restore ecosystems, the life support systems of Earth on which we rely will be compromised beyond repair.
Liquidity
Blown bubbles float briefly above Lake Wanaka. By chance three bubbles join together to form the shape of a water molecule H2O. Water is the most precious substance on Earth. Only 1% of earth’s water is available for human use. There is no new water.
The quote in this work comes from the World Economic Forum - Global Agenda, 2009.
Sea Change video
An environmental art video made in Antarctica with research findings by climate scientist Dr Tim Naish.
Licensing: Sculpture images are licensed for use worldwide
Prints: Fine art prints can be purchased internationally
Copyright: Martin Hill all rights reserved