Exhibition inspired by COP26 opens in city
An all-new climate change exhibition opens at Stirling’s Tolbooth gallery this Friday, featuring the eclectic work of Scene Stirling’s Climate Change Cohort.
Produced in direct response to the COP26 gathering in Glasgow last autumn, Creative Ecosystems continues the debate by offering fresh perspectives on the global crisis – ranging from harrowing and hard-hitting, to humorous and hopeful.
Manager of Scene Stirling Kevin Harrison said: “Installations and exhibits about climate change are nothing new, but this innovative, immersive exhibition by our climate cohort challenges audiences to see the crisis in new ways.
“From poetry recounting the first-hand experience of devastating West African wildfires, to performance art poking fun at the West’s obsession with consumption.
“But that’s not all. To coincide with the curated exhibition, the cohort will also be launching an online showcase of all their work where they’ll continue the climate conversation.”
The exhibition and website are the culmination of a collaborative project by five artists, each with their own take on the climate crisis: filmmaker Sean Hall, performance artists Kate Clayton and David Sherry, musician Rory Green and poet Ojo Taiye.
The cohort were mentored by artist, curator and peer-educator Jonathan Baxter. He said: “Working collectively, the cohort elected to build an ‘ecosystem’ of ideas, germinating concepts that balance disparate art practices, differing perspectives and contrasting experiences, coming together to create an ecological whole.
“Creative Ecosystems features drawings, poetry, original music and sound work, video, and performance in what promises to be a uniquely immersive and thought-provoking experience.”
The exhibition includes two short films by Sean Hall bringing to life the poetry of Ojo Taiye – a young Nigerian facing the harsh realities of climate change everyday in his homeland – accompanied by an original music composition by Rory Green.
Taiye, who uses his poetry to highlight the impact of climate change on minorities, said: “Even though Africa is estimated to produce just four percent of global emissions, compared to 80 percent by the most industrialized countries, it’s the continent that pays the highest price. But our wrecked families, lands and livelihoods barely make the news cycle.
“Rather than articulate the climate crisis through graphs of Co2 levels and sea-level rise, I try as much as possible to act as an expert in my community’s lived experience of storms, flooding and famine.”
The Climate Commissions project pushed the group to challenge both their perspectives on climate change and push their artistic boundaries.
Sean said: “Working with the other members of the cohort, I’ve helped create several films which reflect on different aspects of the climate emergency. I’ve also participated in performance work, encouraged by David and Kate, which was totally new to me.
“Making work around the climate crisis isn’t easy, not just practically but also emotionally. It can be tough thinking about the potential future, disheartening or quietly hopeful depending on the mood of the day. I think the variety of tones in the cohort’s work is representative of that.
“Regardless of your outlook, for me the project has been a reminder of how important conversation and collaboration are in addressing many of those feelings around climate change and in making things happen.”
Creative Ecosystems runs at the Tolbooth Gallery from Friday, May 13, to Saturday, May 28, Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-5pm. Entry is free.
The online showcase launches on the same day at www.scenestirling.com/creative-ecosystems