How Climate Changes Art

Art is created from natural materials like stone, wood, and metals, yet its preservation is notoriously difficult. Art is susceptible to the elements and often requires significant effort to maintain. This video, part of a five-video series, examines art and climate, exploring how historical and contemporary artworks address and are affected by climate.

The Marshall Islands, comprising over 1,200 islands, relied on unique navigational charts called “meddo” or “rebbelib”. These charts, made from bamboo and shells, mapped ocean currents and swell patterns rather than land, aiding generations of seafarers. These charts are crucial for survival and represent the identity of the Marshallese people, who now face threats from nuclear contamination and rising sea levels due to climate change.

Art has long depicted the beauty, variability, and power of climate. Katsushika Hokusai’s 'Under the Wave off Kanagawa' captures the force of the ocean, symbolizing humanity's struggle with and protection from natural forces. Dorothea Lange's photographs documented the Dust Bowl, while Pieter Bruegel the Elder's paintings, like 'Hunters in the Snow' (1565), illustrate the 'Little Ice Age,' revealing everyday life amidst significant climatic shifts.

Climate also directly shapes art itself. The Great Mosque of Djenné, the world's largest mud-built structure, requires constant re-plastering due to heavy rains. An annual festival ensures its upkeep, demonstrating community resilience despite calls for modernization. In Japan, the Ise Shrine is completely reconstructed every twenty years in a ritual called Shikinen Sengu, preserving ancient design, craftsmanship, and local traditions while embodying concepts of renewal and impermanence.

Protecting cultural heritage from climate is a significant challenge. Venice, vulnerable to rising sea levels and sinking land, is attempting to mitigate flooding with the Project Mose sea wall. The Lascaux cave paintings, rediscovered in 1940, were closed to the public in 1963 due to environmental changes caused by visitors, with replicas now available to protect the originals.

Some artworks are created to reveal climate fluctuations. Robert Smithson’s 'Spiral Jetty,' constructed in 1970 in the Great Salt Lake, is directly affected by water levels, microbes, and salt, constantly transforming over time. It serves as a contemplation on geologic time and entropy, existing in a continuous state of decay and rebirth.

The Earth's climate is warming at an alarming rate due to human emissions. Contemporary artists like Zaria Forman, who paints retreating glaciers, and Olafur Eliasson, who brought icebergs to London, create art that speaks to this changing world. Mel Chin's 'Unmoored' explored potential futures of rising oceans in Times Square, urging viewers to consider imminent environmental challenges. Art helps us appreciate and understand our planet and its shifting climate.