Art to inspire action
The reckless expansion of the coal industry was threatening the Great Barrier Reef and considerable public action was needed to stop it.
I led this art activism project to engage new audiences for action, for Greenpeace and in collaboration with Italian artist-duo Carnovsky.
My Role
Creative Direction
Project Lead
Project Management
Collaborators
Carnovsky
Client
Greenpeace
Project Background
A huge campaign was underway to stop the rapid expansion of Australia's Galilee Basin in Queensland. At the time, this would have seen Australia double its thermal coal exports and become the world's biggest exporter of coal – having a devastating effect on the climate and the planet.
Massive public engagement was needed to activate new audiences and inspire them to act.
How might we inspire action from audiences not typically interested in activism and engage them in this campaign?
The Idea
Art has the power to move the heart, body and soul – and in doing so inspire social change by helping people to decide to make change.
A colleague and I had an idea to broaden public engagement in the Reef campaign through art. Italian artist-duo ‘Carnovsky’ had created some incredible pieces of art where overlapping coloured illustrations would appear or disappear depending on the colour of the light shining on them. Carnovsky agreed for us to use one of their artworks in this campaign.
The idea was to suspend their sea life artwork ‘Animalia N.2.’ on a 20m canvas over the water at the main ferry terminal at Circular Quay, Sydney. This location was ideal due to high foot traffic and the context of the water, subject matter and campaign was a perfect fit.
The Pitch
I firstly pitched internally for stakeholder buy-in and funding, and then pitched for inclusion in Vivid and then Art & About where it was accepted. I then sought multiple approvals from multiple regulatory bodies that controlled the small area where the artwork would be displayed and obtained necessary legals – a process which proved incredibly challenging.
The Installation
The artwork was installed at a time of heightened terror alert in the wee hours of the morning in a tricky location by the boat and climb teams as they were smashed by waves and poor weather.
The outcome
When cyan, magenta, and yellow lights were shone on the artwork, different parts of the artwork were brought to life, symbolising the diversity and fragility of the Reef.
This impressive, eye-catching artwork had the desired impact, sparking conversations with the Greenpeace volunteers that were present, raising awareness and engaging members of the public in the campaign.
This idea was only a small one of many within the broader campaign by many organisations to stop the coal expansion of the Galilee Basin and save the Reef. So far, only one coal project (from the many initially proposed) has made it through – with little sign of more to come, with many projects shelved, lapsed or discontinued, and uncertain futures for those that remain.
