Disappearing Nature: artists supporting life on earth

‘Disappearing Nature: artists supporting life on earth’ presented an artists insight into the peril of endangered plant and animal species around the world, highlighting humankind’s effect and cause. It raised questions around whether nature exists separate from human intervention and whether every area of the earth is contested and set out through mankind’s boundaries and requirements. 

From the Arctic to the Deep Sea, the exhibition explored our relationship with nature and the many facets of our influence. The exhibition consisted of works from a selection of significant contemporary artists and leading wildlife photographers including Zana Briski, Adam Chodzko, Marcus Coates, Jeremy Deller, Dan Holdsworth, Tania Kovats, Robin Moore, Mariele Neudecker and Alice Shirley. The works explored the connections between our seas and the questionable freedom of rare species in the deepest corners of the globe, whilst looking at the plight of indigenous people whom are often caught, metaphorically in the same traps, as endangered species unable to control their local environment and way of life.

To launch the exhibition, artist Marcus Coates and anthropologist Jerome Lewis discussed human views of nature with Simon Stuart former Chair of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), artists Tania Kovats and Zana Briski presenting an ‘Art Meets Science’ event. 

Invisible Dust collaborated with Synchronicity Earth on a number of events including the exhibition in London and an art auction called Biophilia Ball in November 2014 [LINK]. The aim was to raise awareness and conservation funding for the 50th Anniversary of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of endangered species worldwide.

Presented by Synchronicity Earth with Invisible Dust and curated by Alice Sharp, Director and Curator of Invisible Dust and Monica Chung, guest curator.

Synchronicity Earth ran a series activities to mark 50 years of the IUCN Red List, uniting participants in a celebration of life on Earth

Paw Prints aimed to allow young people to discover the story of the many feet that walk upon our Earth. This week-long project cultivated the growth of an international network of ecology catalysts who facilitated adventures for children and young people, connecting them to the local, national and global stories of species using art, science and nature awareness.

Your Century!
Held at the Royal Geographical Society this event offered a truly inspirational experience for 13-18 year olds and featured environmental luminaries, explorers, spoken word performers, applied theatre artists, film-makers, social entrepreneurs and more. ‘Your Century!’ gave participants the confidence to imagine and create a different world to the one they stand to inherit if we continue as we are.

Street Art artist Louis Masai produced an array of images on walls around London concentrating on UK endangered and invasive species. 

Image: © African Eagle Owl, film still, ‘English Magic’ courtesy Jeremy Deller and the British Council commissioned for the British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2013, part of ‘Disappearing Nature’.