///ART

Written 29 january 2010

Yesterday evening @ Mediamatic Bank, visitors were treated on the ‘inconvenient truth’ behind the breathtaking fascinating icebergs and the life of the Inuit’s. This post is about artists who dare to stand. It might seem like acting small and local, but in fact these artist are able to THINK BIG! (Part of this report is based on the text written by Tanja Baudoin at Mediamatic.net.)

(Picture via Mediamatic.net, this is Ole Jorgen Hammeken -Picture by Stanley Greene / NOOR from the series Consequences by Noor)

‘Global Warming Dog Sled expedition’

Ole Jorgen Hammeken, a filmmaker and hunter, born in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland told us it’s colder in Amsterdam than it is in Ummannaq at the moment. Personally I was quite shocked about this. During the evening Ole presented his own film ‘Global Warming Dog Sled expedition’ and invited his friends to talk about their film and art projects. On Mediamatic we can read that before Ole went to Uummannaq he was studying law, but had this burning passion inside himself to be a real Eskimo and spend the rest of his life living as a hunter.

Because of the changing climate, life is quickly becoming extremely challenging for the Greenlanders and they are facing harsh conditions. In his documentary made in 2007,  Ole and a team of local men from Ummannaq, opened up a new sled route via the inland ice to Illulissat, when the old postal sled route no longer could be used by dog sleds due to global warming.

(Picture via Mediamatic.net)

A holistic approach before nature decides…

At the end of the presentations a member of the audience asked Ole if he has a Plan B. If it’s just not to late to prevent the climate changes that actually taking place now, while presenting these films and art projects at the time?’ Ole answers that there is an old Inuit saying that goes: “It’s only the weather that rules”. Personally I like to mention that art projects like this, are an essential ingredient of ‘the bigger plan’. Better explained by a ‘Holistic’ approach on sustainability. ‘The whole is more than the sum of its parts.’ Based on the idea that all the properties of a given system (in this case a social, cultural, economic and environmental one) cannot be determined or explained by its component parts alone. Combining different aspects so that they work together. Bringing a ‘wholeness’ concerning sustainable development.

To deal with this ‘inconvenient truth’, I believe we need many actions in different routes at the same time. The sum of this can really make the difference. One route is raising awareness amongst every (p)layer in society, from consumers, companies, education, science, ect.  And especially in politics. Therefor the media Art and Fashion are interesting tools. Art to wake up and (Hiphonest) Fashion to indentify ourselves with an almost abstract theme, like global warming. Internet is there to strengthen our networks and increase our voice.

Greenland Exhibition

This evening was part of the Greenland exhibition that presents images, stories and experiences from Greenland’s nature and culture, made by photographer Anya van Lit and author Joost Bottema, who traveled through this vast country together. On Mediamatic.net, Peter Lyberth’s a.k.a. Peand el, a rapper from Greenland will show us around Greenland in 30 days.

Follow the other days here!

Silent Snow

Jan van den Berg, presented his short film called ‘Silent Snow’. The story is about two girls who discuss the incomprehensible environmental damage of Greenland. Pollution caused by the industries in other countries  around the world.

(Still from Silent Snow)

Climate change = culture change

Ap Verheggen presented Cool(E)Motion, a moving sculpture project that aims to re-engage the public on the topic of climate change by supporting a gigantic and unprecedented art project. This project will address the topic in a positive way, in contrast with the prevailing ‘propaganda’, scientific contradictions and/or pointing the accusing finger.

(Still from Coolemotion.org)

The team of Cool(E)motion, will travel into the areas around the North Pole. Thought is to create a link between the climate and culture. By placing sculptures, inspired by the local culture on rapidly moving glaciers, floating icebergs or drifting ices, these art sculptures will be propelled at high speed towards their final destruction. This process is being and broadcasted the website www.coolemotion.org so the audience can witness this theatrical drama in their own living rooms.