A collaboration between Occhi Arts and Entertainment and Phoenix FTA Limited, a UK-based sustainability strategy consultancy.
Artist Sumali (Buki)
Reflective Moments - Oil on Canvas
COP26: Together For Our Planet
An Exhibition of Artworks by Generations Z and Alpha
Project Outline
This project is a collaboration between Occhi Arts and Entertainment and Phoenix FTA Limited, a UK-based sustainability strategy consultancy. Inspired by the UK Creative Earth Competition, Occhi Arts and Entertainment and Phoenix FTA Limited invited young artists from around the world to creatively engage with key topics of concern at the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow. The initiative provided young artists with a renewed opportunity to visually express their views to world leaders and community stakeholders by producing 2D artwork (drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, and photography) that supports at least one of the following themes:
1. Protect What You Love
Climate Change is giving rise to more frequent wildfires, longer periods of drought in some regions, and an increase in the number, duration, and intensity of tropical storms. Glaciers are shrinking, plant and animal ranges are shifting or going extinct. Humans could save thousands of species from extinction if they act. ‘Protect What You Love’ encourages participants to express their concerns, highlighting what their hold dearly and want to protect from the effects of climate change.
2. A future beyond neoliberal capitalism?
With our societies forced into a truly deranged economic paradigm, one that landed us amid a terrifying climate emergency, it’s hard to imagine that the future of our human species lies beyond the patent immorality of neoliberal capitalism. A completely new system that puts equity and justice at its core is required. Young artists were invited to creatively express their interpretation of a “post-ecopathic” economic system via the mediums of drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, and photography.
Our Objective
Our objective is to foster and establish an inclusive young artists’ community that feels empowered to engage with global climate change politics by using their creativity, expressing their democratic voice, and participating in this vitally important discourse. We believe the project will help build a noteworthy platform to establish intergenerational collaboration with key stakeholders by raising awareness of COP26 and serve a cross-sectional analysis that will allow deeper insights into how Generations Z and Alpha perceive the severity of climate change. It fosters political engagement, participation in the democratic process, and voices intergenerational concerns.
Each featured work remains the copyright of the participating artist who consents to work being exhibited as part of this initiative.
Click here to see the COP26: Together For Our Planet Exhibition Entries
A final shortlist of twelve works, selected for their originality, concept, and alignment
with the exhibition brief, feature in our publication
Curators
Ina Ballik
Ina Ballik is a Sustainability Strategist and Director of Phoenix FTA Limited. Over the past 15 years, she has established a wealth of experience in the UNFCCC and EU ETS Carbon Credit market and International Standards Certification market, having worked on hundreds of GHG mitigation projects and international standards certifications in over forty countries on five continents. Her current position as Sustainability Strategist and past positions as Lead Verifier, EHS Management Systems Auditor, and Project Developer give her a well-rounded profile as a climate change and environmental professional.
David Emmanuel Noel
As an interdisciplinary artist, curator, and accredited PR consultant, David has been involved in several music events and visual art exhibitions at venues such as the Kennedy Center Washington DC, Bernie Grant Arts Centre London, the Landmark Arts Building New York, and Whole 9 Gallery in Culver City, California. He has worked closely with institutes, professional bodies, and agencies such as the Royal Institute of British Architects, New York Mayor's Office, CAMBA- the New York-based agency, the NSPCC, and several London Boroughs on projects supporting the environmental and therapeutic benefits of the arts.
