How Do We Talk About Crises?

Last year, I completed the Hunt for the Lost project on Governor’s Island when a more ambitious project, Blued Trees Black Skies, was torpedoed by the pandemic. Since then, it became clear to me that small discussion groups need to explode into international exchanges. Zoom has really filled in some of that empty space. It isn’t unusual for me to be engaged in three or more of those international conversations a week now. Many of them are building up to COP26 with satellite events and are now further spurred by the recent IPCC report. Contrary to the definition of urgency in that report as a window until 2050, I would strongly argue that our window is closer to 2-3 years, about how much time the Biden administration has left in his term to continue to overturn the devastating damage from created by the previous president.

In addition to virtual connectivity, I’m also experiencing very exciting outreach to participate in publications from across the world to foster exactly the kind of connection I think we need now to resist ecocide. One of those recent connections was with Bina Sarkar in Mumbai, India, who produces International Gallerie. She included a beautifully designed four-page spread of my work in her environmental issue along with many artists I greatly admire, such as Ravi Agarwal, Agnes Denes, Alan Sonfist, and Nils Udo among others. The issue also has a lot more wonderful work, much by artists whose names I didn’t recognize.

Resistance to ecocide is being tested by the resistance of ecocidalists, their deep pockets and their determination to maintain a socio-political death grip on power at all costs and despite all collateral damage. We are inching too slowly to commensurate accountability: for environmental war crimes and for reparations to victims worldwide. Art, meanwhile, however, is another power base which can never be underestimated. Art can speak to people in special ways. Now we are talking to eachother across all kinds of boundaries, learning from and supporting each other. I believe that is profoundly hopeful.