LIVE EVENTS
Alternative Approaches to Landscape and Energy Through Care, Healing & Regeneration
a panel discussion
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We are living in a time that is defined by the ecological crisis, which encompasses both climate change and a widespread loss of biodiversity. After centuries of human domination over nature in Western cultures, we – and our other-than-human co-inhabitants – are increasingly facing the consequences. And while public awareness on ecological issues has increased in recent years, much of public discourse remains focused on science, innovation and the economy, while promising to continue a status quo that is built on excess and consumer culture.
Looking North is a project that was born out of the wish to contribute to diversifying those discourses without negating or excluding its current building blocks: by inviting leading artists, nature writers and ecological initiatives, Looking North has facilitated both online and in-person conversations that explore how we can reflect on and reframe prevalent concepts of landscape, nature and energy, as well as our relationship to them by discussing thoughts expressed by artworks, in the written word and the inspiring work that is going on across Scotland.
This event is an opportunity to gather in person, and conclude the Third Part of Looking North, which focused specifically on care, healing and regeneration as a way to broaden and diversify our understanding of what it means to take positive environmental action. Central questions include, if we consider “care, healing and regeneration” as a framework to encourage a broader societal shift in face of the ecological crisis, what are the role and potential of curation, art, research and art history to develop and convey those ideas? Building on this, which practices do we understand as expressing “care, healing & regeneration”? How can that be helpful to exploring alternative approaches to landscape, nature and energy? And what are the ways in which this relates to the speaker’s professional activities?
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Tiffany Boyle: curator
Lauren Gault: artist
Eszter Erdosi: art historian “Multispecies Relationalities: Politicised Animals and Practices of Care in Contemporary Art”
Bridget Bradley: social anthropologist, “eco-worrier, eco-warrier”
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When: March 21, 2 - 4pm
Where: Dundee Contemporary Arts
This event is funded by the St Andrews Scotland's Future Series, the Centre for Energy Ethics and the Centre for Contemporary Art.
EXPLORING SUFFICIENCY AND POST-GROWTH IN ART AND EXHIBITION PRACTICES IN SCOTLAND
a roundtable discussion
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While de-growth and re-framing our definition of what makes a good life from excess to having “enough” are slowly entering public debate, they are not discussed with much nuance within the world of art and exhibition making. Approaching those research questions as part of a roundtable discussion with fellow professionals will be an important step to identify and explore different facets and arguments.
Many environmental humanities scholars argue that adequate climate action must be based upon reducing global consumption levels, in addition to embracing nature-based solutions and opportunities afforded by tech and innovation. Whilst Western conceptions of a “good life” are currently built on excess, (green) growth critics often argue we should reframe such definitions, and strive towards maintaining a level of sufficient resources, rather than excessive amounts. What does that mean for art production and exhibition practices, however?
How may arguments on (quasi-) autonomy of art, and criteria within art criticism ought to adapt when considering concepts like “sufficiency” and “de-growth”, given the extraordinary urgency of climate change and related ecological crises, such as decreasing biodiversity? How could one engage with “sufficiency” and “de-growth”, and acknowledge the scale of change in circumstances we experience without risking to (self-) censor art and curation practices?
This event invites a curator, an artist, a scholar and a fourth individual, potentially a representative of a creative funding body from Scotland, to explore the aforementioned questions in the format of a roundtable discussion.
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Emma Nicolson: Head of Exhibitions at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Co-Founder of Atlas Arts
Nick Addington: CEO, William Grant Foundation
Dr. Lucy Steeds: Senior Lecturer, University of Edinburgh
Dr. Tim Collins: Artist-Researcher, Collins & Goto Studio
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When: November 18, 12 - 4pm
Where: Glasgow Women’s Library
The event comprises three main parts. At the beginning, each speaker presents their thoughts and initial position (15 min each). After a short break, the second part is dedicated to the actual round table discussion in which the speakers will explore the central questions in the form of a conversation (1hr). That conversation will be followed by a Q&A in which the audience can join in and contribute their thoughts and questions (45min).
This event is supported by the British Art Network (BAN). BAN is a Subject Specialist Network supported by TATE and the Paul Mellon Centre for studies in British Art, with additional public funding provided by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. The Network promotes curatorial research, practice and theory in the field of British Art. Its members include curators, academics, artist-researchers, conservators, producers and programmers at all stages of their professional lives. For more information, please visit britishartnetwork.org.uk
THE PROFOUND DIVINE SKY
a film screening
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Profound Divine Sky (2021) is a short film by Sekai Machache, a Zimbabwean-Scottish visual artist and curator based in Glasgow.
The film was shot in the Flow Country of the Scottish Highlands, the site of a major ecological conservation project to revive the ecosystem of the peatlands in an effort to reduce carbon emissions.
Sekai utilises allegory and performance to communicate a complicated history through poesis and immersive storytelling. Through movement, and to the accompaniment of four original poems spoken by the artist, Sekai explores the ways in which Black bodies exist in rural landscapes, engaging with such themes as Scottish landscape, African metaphysics and cosmology, ritual practice, Celtic song, ritual performance, Gaidhlig language, and Black Scottish Identity. With videography and editing by Basharat Khan and score by Susannah Stark.
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When: March 29, 2023
Where: The Byre Theatre, St Andrews
Cost: Pay What You Can £5.00 / £3.00 / £0.00 with all proceeds going to RSPB Flow Country Partners Appeal
Running time: 1h 15m
All ages
