In many ways, the end of the world would seem to be a fruitful vein for artists to explore, but as inhabitants of said world, there’s an argument to be made that exploration alone is not enough. As artists concerned with the climate crisis, it is imperative that we approach the work we do through a framework that centres not only the wellbeing of the planet we call home, but also the multitude of peoples whose perspectives are missing from institutionalised thinking.
I Am Weary of the Poets, 2017 © Alan McFetridge
Here at the Centre for Ecological Philosophy, this is a core tenet of our work. Alan McFetridge, Emma McLoughlin and Antoinette Johnson have recently submitted a paper to an academic journal on the theme of Landscapes of Care. The writing discusses Alan’s approach to photography through Martha Rosler’s framework laid out in In, Around, and Afterthoughts (On Documentary Photography) (1981), highlighting the need for positive care for photographic subjects, as opposed to the historical tendency of documentary photographers to capture the pain and suffering of their subjects before promptly moving on. Alan subverted this tendency while shooting for Songs of the Dead by working with the community of Fort McMurray to more accurately represent and reflect on their experiences in the aftermath of the Horse River fire of 2016.
This shift away from the historical norms of the genre is representative of a larger shift in the mindsets of artists covering the topic of the climate crisis, from which we can gather hope. As the planet’s changing climate looms larger in everyone’s minds, there is great progress being made in the field of ecological art. Artists are responding with empathy, bringing attention to the plight of the vulnerable and challenging the systems of power which seek to exploit them and the Earth’s finite resources.
Share your #ClimateAction this Earth Day
As climate Action is a year-round undertaking, throughout Earth Week (19-22 April) we are calling on everybody to share examples of the #ClimateAction they’ve been taking over the past year. Tag us on Instagram and Linkedin so that we can re-share on Earth Day!
Happy Earth Day, everyone!
By Oscar Cannon