Climate change adaptation inspires art exhibition

Bengal is a new collection of sculptures commissioned by Christian Aid to raise awareness of climate change.

The five sculptures by artist Gerry Judah feature in the Tipping Point exhibition being run in association with Wolverhampton Art Gallery from 11 May to 6 July.

The exhibition explores the unstable future of the environment and economy.

Judah took inspiration for his contribution from a trip to West Bengal and Jharkhand in India where he saw how communities are adapting to unpredictable weather patterns and rising sea levels.

Gerry was born in Kolkota, in West Bengal, but had not returned for 50 years prior to his trip with Christian Aid.

He visited communities living in the shadow of power stations that are affected by fly-ash deposits hampering their crops. He was also able to meet subsistence farmers working with Christian Aid partners to adapt their farming methods in the face of unpredictable droughts and floods, while learning about sustainable and clean energy sources.

"It seems to me that there are people in India getting richer and richer and there are people in India getting poorer and poorer. And it's those who are really more affected by climate change," he said.

"I remember we were in a village having dinner and were sitting on these chairs that you would have thrown away in a skip. They were torn plastic vacuum formed, but they were wired together with old rusty metal to become chairs again.

"And it seemed to me that people are just using anything they can to patch up their lives, so that they continue living or existing, and it seems to me that climate change has such an impact on people that they're trying to patch up whatever they can just to deal with it."

The Tipping Point exhibition also features the work of Turner Prize winner Simon Starling and nominees Darren Almond and Anya Gallaccio.

related articles
test...

test...

News
Belief in ghosts and magic linked to faith and trust in science, study finds
Belief in ghosts and magic linked to faith and trust in science, study finds

A new study suggests that Americans who believe in God while placing strong trust in science and reason may be more likely to believe in ghosts, curses and other supernatural phenomena.

Archaeologists may have discovered identity of mystery skeleton in Westminster Abbey
Archaeologists may have discovered identity of mystery skeleton in Westminster Abbey

Archaeologists believe they may have finally discovered the identity of a skeleton buried in a Roman sarcophagus in Westminster Abbey.

Many churches lack AI policies despite widespread support among pastors, study finds
Many churches lack AI policies despite widespread support among pastors, study finds

New research reveals a significant divide between church leaders’ recognition of the need for responsible AI practices and the measures currently in place within their congregations.

New index examines how faith-based businesses put beliefs into practice
New index examines how faith-based businesses put beliefs into practice

A pilot study of 100 organisations explores how religious beliefs shape investment, governance and social responsibility.