Humans can be agents of change, if we change from within, and realise we have the power to achieve what we want to achieve, now.
On 09/12/2021, artist in residence Jill Townsley and philosopher/scientist Nicole Dewandre presented the development of their SciArt collaboration after Resonances III, datami (2019). Jill used a video to convey the contents of their discussions which, as an artistic medium, was a wonderful example of just how important the process is for SciArt projects. This conference was an example of how SciArt can be a worthwhile exercise in democracy of disciplines, experimentation and meaningful interdisciplinary encounters, which can help us all open up to collaborations.
As such, Nicole stated that working with Jill had complemented her philosophical studies, and thanks to Nicole, Jill felt more confident to pursue her intentions as a contemporary artist, by understanding and listening to herself. Drawing from the writings of Hannah Arendt, they expressed their principal concern for a need for immediate action, if society is to change at a systemic level and the Green deal is to succeed. They observed how the present is the only transformative space where creation, collaboration and interaction take place; where the constructive joy of living flourishes and where our energy resides. To be able to change our living conditions, we should engage with this present space, diverging from the modern trope of trying to fix issues such as climate change by thinking about the future. We cannot solve these problems without considering the present – once we are in the future it is too late!
Jill and Nicole mentioned transformative literacy, as a way to foster public engagement and prepare audiences to understand and effectively respond to concerns. Jill and Nicole presented a proposal for a four-part installation which would strive to embody and consolidate the immediacy of the present moment. To instantaneously connect people with each other all over the world, they would start from a 3D sculpture made out of mist, which would change in accordance with its viewers’ data. This would visualise the present moment and remind us of our interconnectedness and similarity across space. To further embrace humanity and ground us in the here and now, they proposed a return to the earth and a link to natural processes of construction, working with our hands. To do this, they would draw from what participants created from mist, to produce material sculptures as the final part of the installation.