Artist Voices: Climate Change - What Should Art Do?

As part of ‘a space; arts’ expanded Artist Voices programme, we will host an in-conversation and open discussion between our climate action programme contributors Bijan Moosavi, Harry Meadows and Lizzie Jones and special guest moderator, curator & artist Amal Khalaf. Audience members are encouraged to contribute to the discussion throughout.

We’ll discuss the way that visual arts practice addresses climate change, the role of art spaces in climate activism and the increasing demand for artists to act as agents of social change. The core aim of ‘a space’ arts Artist Voices programme is to support artist development by unpacking and demystifying key topics and issues of the visual arts ecology through discussion with artists and cultural workers.

 

About the Artists

Bijan Moosavi is an Iranian multimedia artist based in London. He makes films, installations, music and performances which look at the impact of neoliberalism from a Middle Eastern point of view. Bijan’s work draws upon the aesthetics of corporate advertising, sci-fi movies, popular culture and the Islamic Kitsch in order to tell dystopian tales from speculative futures drowned in deep neoliberalism.

Bijan has presented his work at Eastside Projects, Birmingham, (2022); V.O Curations, London (2022); AD/AD Project Space, Hanover (2021); The Nunnery Gallery, London (2020); Forecast Forum, Berlin (2019), Bonhams, London (2018); The Art House, Wakefield (2017); OTO Project Space, London (2016); Lewisham Arthouse, London (2015); SOAS University, London (2012); Mohsen Art Gallery, Tehran (2010); Sazmanab Project, Tehran (2010) and Azad Art Gallery, Tehran (2010). He was selected as a finalist for the Magic of Persia Contemporary Art Prize in 2018 and 2013 and was an artist-in-residence at the Delfina Foundation in London in 2019.

You can find out more about Bijan and his work on his website – CLICK HERE

 

Artist and lecturer Harry Meadows leads Critical Zone Observatory. This research framework explores the sculptural possibilities for imagining environmental sensors not as benign scientific apparatus but as machines imbued with human bias and emotion. The investigation is a framework for partnerships of artists, musicians and scientists to work creatively with climate data.

Critical Zone Observatory generates art work and musical performance through partnerships between artists, musicians and scientists working creatively with climate data. Recent projects include; a commission for Art and the Rural Imagination, online and in the New Forest (2020); Climate Data Karaoke at Kiosk 7, Copenhagen (2020); Mechanical Human Matter, Arts University Bournemouth (2020) and Digital Ecologies II: Fiction Machines, Bath Spa University (2019).

Since receiving an AHRC award and completing an MFA at Goldsmiths College Meadows has exhibited with institutions such as The Venice Biennale of Architecture, The Barbican, Southbank Centre and Hayward Touring, as well as commissions for the Whitstable Biennial, Supernormal Festival and The Black Maria at The Granary, Central St. Martins. He has worked as artist in residence at London Metropolitan University, Brazier’s Park, Studio36 Spike Island, Mothership and Kiosk7. Research groups include The Deep Field Project and Drawing: Transformative Matter, Material Trace.

Since 2014, Meadows has worked at Arts University Bournemouth as Senior Lecturer in Fine Art.

You can find out more about Harry and his work on his website – CLICK HERE

 

Lizzie Jones is a Southampton-based artist. Her work mainly explores natural dye plants, growing and processing, as well as making puppets, paintings and happenings with Puppet Back Up. With gardening as the day job, plants and ecological considerations are returning themes. Having studied in the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, Lizzie is a current resident and popular member of the local artist community at ‘a space’ arts Arches Studios.

You can find out more about Lizzie and her work on her website – CLICK HERE

 

Access and Quiet Spaces

The artwork for this exhibition can be found in the Main Gallery and Project Space which are both served by a lift and will be open before and after the event. 
Please be aware, the Main Gallery and Project Space will have very low lighting.

The ground floor bar and cafe to GHT have step free access from Town Quay Road. For information on parking and travel please visit the Plan your Visit page of our website.

Throughout the event the Cafe Extension will be used as a quiet space with dimmed lighting, seating, quiet music and water available. Please use this space if you need to for any reason to take a break.

If you’d like to familiarise yourself before your visit you can take a virtual tour of the spaces on our website. You’ll also find a visual story so that you know what to expect and how to identify members of the GHT Team. Please note that the Stories Behind the Stones exhibition will not be open for this event: https://godshousetower.org.uk/accessibility-at-ght/

Tickets
: Please have your ticket ready when you arrive on the night for a member of the team to check at the front door. This event is totally free to attend and we’ll be operating a ‘pay what you feel’ system at the end of the talk. If you have a good night and can spare a few pounds we’d really appreciate it. All donation are welcome and will help us to keep these projects free to take part in and to attend and will help to build a creative community around GHT.