Artists tackle 'man vs nature' debate

By Ivana Kottasová, for CNN

Updated 1015 GMT (1815 HKT) July 20, 2012

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Jo Coupe's casts plants in lead, creating deathly-looking objects. "Lead is not an environment-friendly material, it's visually deadly," Coupe says. "It's a metaphor for life and death."
Photos: In pictures: Art as an environmental message
'A metaphor for life and death' – Jo Coupe's casts plants in lead, creating deathly-looking objects. "Lead is not an environment-friendly material, it's visually deadly," Coupe says. "It's a metaphor for life and death."
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James P Graham's "Golden Cage" is made of volcanic rocks wrapped in gold wire. He says it symbolizes "man's attempts to imprison and control nature."
Photos: In pictures: Art as an environmental message
'Golden Cage' – James P Graham's "Golden Cage" is made of volcanic rocks wrapped in gold wire. He says it symbolizes "man's attempts to imprison and control nature."
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Peter Randal Page's "Parting Company" sculpture represents a seed found in Belize. "It makes people rediscover nature," David Worthington says. "Botany makes nature very complicated, distant, and difficult to remember."
Photos: In pictures: Art as an environmental message
'Parting Company' – Peter Randal Page's "Parting Company" sculpture represents a seed found in Belize. "It makes people rediscover nature," David Worthington says. "Botany makes nature very complicated, distant, and difficult to remember."
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David Worthington explored the similarities between seeds, the sexual parts of plants, with human reproductive organs. He says that enlightenment and technology took people away from the nature. The exhibition, he says, shows the simplicity of nature.
Photos: In pictures: Art as an environmental message
Seeds of sexuality – David Worthington explored the similarities between seeds, the sexual parts of plants, with human reproductive organs. He says that enlightenment and technology took people away from the nature. The exhibition, he says, shows the simplicity of nature.
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Greyworld, an artistic group from London, is interested in urban spaces. Their aim is to improve the environment by creating "living communities" where people engage with each other through play. Pictured here is their interactive piece "Clockwork Book".
Photos: In pictures: Art as an environmental message
'Clockwork Book' – Greyworld, an artistic group from London, is interested in urban spaces. Their aim is to improve the environment by creating "living communities" where people engage with each other through play. Pictured here is their interactive piece "Clockwork Book".
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Curator David Worthington says the juxtaposition of natural and man-made objects can create experiences that influence how people do things and can change their habits.
Photos: In pictures: Art as an environmental message
'Intake' – Curator David Worthington says the juxtaposition of natural and man-made objects can create experiences that influence how people do things and can change their habits.
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Chris Drury used real mushrooms to create prints of their spores. "They represent life, death and regeneration. They can feed you, they can cure you and they can kill you," Drury says.
Photos: In pictures: Art as an environmental message
Mushroom for art – Chris Drury used real mushrooms to create prints of their spores. "They represent life, death and regeneration. They can feed you, they can cure you and they can kill you," Drury says.
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"Some pieces are in shock with the garden or even with each other, and create sensations," Worthington says. "These sensations and the experience of the object can change how we do things," he says.
Photos: In pictures: Art as an environmental message
'Ripper Teath' – "Some pieces are in shock with the garden or even with each other, and create sensations," Worthington says. "These sensations and the experience of the object can change how we do things," he says.
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This sculpture by Cathy Ward and Eric Wright could be used to grow corn. It is an artistic solution to the problems of sustainable agriculture and water management.
Photos: In pictures: Art as an environmental message
The kernal of an idea – This sculpture by Cathy Ward and Eric Wright could be used to grow corn. It is an artistic solution to the problems of sustainable agriculture and water management.