Olafur Eliasson, a Danish-Icelandic artist, utilizes large-scale installations to address climate change. His 2014 project, "Ice Watch," involved transporting 12 immense blocks of ice from Greenland to public spaces in European cities, where they were left to melt, highlighting the urgency of global warming.
In 2006, Chris Jordan began his "Running the Numbers" series, which visualizes the impact of human consumption on the environment. One piece, "Gyre," replicates Hokusai's famous wave using 2.4 million pieces of plastic, symbolizing the tons of plastic entering oceans annually.
The Cape Farewell project, initiated by artist David Buckland in 2001, brings artists and scientists together on Arctic expeditions to inspire climate-related art. Participants like Antony Gormley and Rachel Whiteread create works reflecting the stark reality of climate change.
Indigenous artists also play a crucial role. Nicholas Galanin, an Alaskan Native, merges traditional and contemporary art to address environmental issues. His piece "The Value of Sharpness: When It Falls" uses a tree felled by climate change to comment on ecological loss.
In 2019, the Young Vic Theatre in London staged Duncan Macmillan's play "Lungs," which tackles the anxiety surrounding climate change through the lens of a couple debating whether to have a child in an overpopulated world.
Agnes Denes, a pioneer of environmental art, planted a wheatfield in Manhattan in 1982, juxtaposing nature with urban development. Her work, "Wheatfield – A Confrontation," remains a powerful statement on land use and food production.
Zaria Forman creates detailed pastel drawings of melting icebergs and rising seas. Her work not only documents the changing landscapes but also evokes emotional responses to the climate crisis.
The Extreme Ice Survey, founded by James Balog, uses time-lapse photography to capture the rapid retreat of glaciers. This visual evidence of climate change has been featured in the documentary "Chasing Ice," providing impactful proof of environmental transformations.
John Akomfrah, a British artist and filmmaker, addresses climate change through multi-screen installations. His work "Purple" (2017) combines archival footage, newly shot film, and a powerful score to explore the effects of climate change on human history and the natural world.
These artists, among many others, use their platforms to bring awareness, evoke emotional responses, and inspire action regarding climate change, demonstrating the significant role of art in environmental advocacy.