Breaking News

Artists tackle 'man vs nature' debate

By Ivana Kottasová, for CNN

Updated 1015 GMT (1815 HKT) July 20, 2012

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

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."
Hide Caption
1 of 11
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."
Hide Caption
2 of 11
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."
Hide Caption
3 of 11
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.
Hide Caption
4 of 11
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".
Hide Caption
5 of 11
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.
Hide Caption
6 of 11
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.
Hide Caption
7 of 11
"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.
Hide Caption
8 of 11
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.
Hide Caption
9 of 11
William Peers says that by working with natural materials and creating things, he is playing a creator. He remains pessimistic about the men's relationship to nature. "We are fools," he says.
Photos: In pictures: Art as an environmental message
Man vs nature – William Peers says that by working with natural materials and creating things, he is playing a creator. He remains pessimistic about the men's relationship to nature. "We are fools," he says.
Hide Caption
10 of 11
Michael Shaw installed large inflatable balloons on trees in the Chelsea Physic Garden. "There is no 'Greenpeace message' in the piece," he says. "But it relates to environment, it is responsive to it. Where the sculpture is depends on the wind."
Photos: In pictures: Art as an environmental message
Not campaigning – Michael Shaw installed large inflatable balloons on trees in the Chelsea Physic Garden. "There is no 'Greenpeace message' in the piece," he says. "But it relates to environment, it is responsive to it. Where the sculpture is depends on the wind."
Hide Caption
11 of 11

Story highlights

  • Sculpture show aims to make people engage with nature
  • Curator David Worthington says art is capable of changing people's habits
  • Artists communicate through emotions, rather than by placing demands, he says
Forget the extreme environmental campaigns involving chaining oneself to an oil refinery or egging local politicians. The next big thing of environmental campaigning? Aesthetics.
A group of 20 artists decided to step away from slogans and campaigns and unveiled a sculpture exhibition designed to make suggestions, rather than demands. Called "Pertaining to Things Natural" the show at London's Chelsea Physic Garden puts together art pieces that respond to the environment and the current ecological debates.
Cathy Ward and Eric Wright are among the artists involved in the show. Their sculpture "Skyfield" addresses the issue of sustainability.
"As populations expand, pressure increases to produce more food on the limited and shrinking land that is available for cultivation," Ward explains.
"Scientific advances in the genetics of plants as well as increased knowledge on the effects of diet on health are opening new and vital debates on our future," she says.
Her bright pink, double deck structure might not convey that message straight away, but a closer look shows that the sculpture could be used as a corn grower, suggesting a solution to the lack of cultivated land.
James P. Graham's "Golden Cage" is one of those more metaphoric pieces. The cage-like structure of volcanic rocks wrapped in gold wire symbolizes man's "attempts to imprison and control nature," a much discussed theme within the environmental debate.
The connection between art and environment is not a new one. From the pioneer Friedensreich Hundertwasser, who designed underground highways lined by trees and rooftop gardens, to sculptures made of recycled materials, creative souls have long tried to send out the environmental message.
But this latest addition to the dialog between art and environment carries more subtle message.
Sculptor Michael Shaw installed large inflatable balloons on trees.
"There is no 'Greenpeace message' in the piece," he says. "But it relates to environment, it is responsive to it. Where the sculpture is depends on the wind."
The curator of the show, David Worthington, says this is the way art can add to the environmental debate -- even without straightforward messages.
"We can affect people's consciousness about environment on intellectual level, through campaigns and information," he says and points out environmental groups around the world.
"But we can also do it on emotional level through art and creativity," he says. "The emotional level is more powerful."