'Global Warning': Beautifying the Discourse

Abstract

Anthropogenic global warming (AGW) is regarded as the planet's gravest problem by world leaders as diverse as UN secretary-general Ban KiMoon (Stunner, 2014) and former US President Barak Obama (Park, 2015). However, the necessary mass mitigation actions are yet to happen, partly because traditional scientific and political communication is not adequate alone for this unprecedented challenge (Ockwell et al., 2009; Leiserowitz, 2006). The arts can effectively raise awareness of the problems; stimulate solutions-based reflection, discussion and action at individual and community levels; and bring beauty and optimism to a disturbing issue (Curtis et al., 2012; Branagan, 2013: 176-216). This paper describes my 2015 exhibition Global Warning which attempted to achieve these outcomes. I provide my reflections on what I hoped to represent through the artworks in this exhibition, how I created them and the impact that I hoped to achieve.