Art History — Sustainability
Art and sustainability share a close relationship in the search for the well-being of society, in expressing social non-conformities and manifesting the impacts as consequence of daily human activities until today. Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present generations without compromising the degree of resilience of future generations. Likewise, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emerged whose objective is to be adopted by the different nations in search of eradicating poverty, combating climate change, promoting a sustainable economy, among others.
Links between Art and Sustainability around the world.
Sustainability can be seen from daily aspects that aspire to care for the environment, economic development and social welfare. The symbiosis generated between art and nature goes back to the elaboration of landscapes represented in ancient engravings, drawings in Ancient Egypt, and landscape movements during the Middle Ages. However, until the Renaissance, nature took on its true importance as an essential element representing the well-being of resources, the richness of ecosystems and environmental care.
The approach between both concepts had been worked from a thematic perspective in which nature fulfilled a role merely content in the work, however until the 1970s materials and landscapes were incorporated as the basis for creations, this movement known as Land Art created by the artist Robert Smithson seeks that the works convey the importance of the concept of sustainability to inform the impact on the environment, the materials used and the degree of awareness about social problems.
Building synergies between the concepts.
Over time the movement has been adopted by various artists in order to inform and take action on the impact generated by their works. The future of the art in terms of environmental care considers the impact during the development of a work such as the type of material used that generates the lowest greenhouse gas emissions emitted into the atmosphere, as well as the result and message that It will generate this work in society, that is to say at the moment in which sustainability maintains a relationship with the three spheres of sustainability. The final result of this work will generate an impact in each of them, promoting various messages and actions towards the public.
Several Foundations have supported artistic communities that seek to join this movement or whose works are aligned to these principles as sustainable architecture projects in which optimization of natural resources, efficient use of energy and various compliance with the goal of reduce the environmental footprint generated during construction. This is the case of the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, which shows the work of iconic artists throughout history such as Vincent van Gogh promoting the protection of natural ecosystems, the consequences of overpopulation and scarcity of resources and social differences.
In Mexico, this type of initiatives and collaborations have been promoted among different sectors of society since the only way to achieve the goals for 2030 will be through interdisciplinary collaboration, an example is the artist Adrián Rodríguez, as he communicates the conditions of vulnerable groups or at risk. These programs seek to make each of us responsible for our daily actions and ensure a prosperous future for the next generations while linking art with humanity in order to take action for the general welfare. The collaboration of the National Museum of the Palace of Fine Arts in conjunction with various environmental bodies have generated initiatives to improve the use of resources within the enclosure, as well as an internal sustainability management plan in order to align actions for responsible management.
The relationship of art in the context of sustainability can contribute to the fulfillment of the SDGs, achieve a better communication between the activities generated by the individuals, as well as the potential of actions that can be taken to curb the consequences generated by climate change. These terms are so linked that many artists are committed to the common good so that they offer works and samples with a focus to reflect on the importance of nature.
The implications go beyond a cultural heritage, causing an impact in each area of society with both a positive and negative impact, the future of art as well as the development of a society will maintain this relationship together in search of better conditions for the society.
The future of art is linked to the protection of resources for future generations, so that these valuable enclosures together with the works must be preserved to be exhibited and meet the various objectives for which they were prepared.
References
OXFAM Intermón. “Descubre el arte sostenible. “OXFAM Intermón. s.a.. OXFAM Intermón. 06/05/2019 https://blog.oxfamintermon.org/descubre-el-arte-sostenible/.
Senado de la República. “Cultura y arte, herramientas fundamentales para atender problemas de sustentabilidad y desarrollo sostenible. “Senado de la República Coordinación de Comunicación Social. 30 Abril 2019. Senado de la República. 05 May 2019 http://comunicacion.senado.gob.mx/index.php/informacion/boletines/44729-cultura-y-arte-herramientas-fundamentales-para-atender-problemas-de-sustentabilidad-y-desarrollo-sostenible.html.
Sostenibilidad para todos. “Arte y Sostenibilidad. “Sostenibilidad para todos. S.A.. ACCIONA. 05 May 2019 https://www.sostenibilidad.com/desarrollo-sostenible/arte-y-sostenibilidad/.
La Razón de México. “Con reducción en los desechos, Bellas Artes promueve el cuidado ambiental. “La Razón de México. 01 febrero 2016. La Razón de México. 05 May https://www.razon.com.mx/cultura/con-reduccion-en-los-desechos-bellas-artes-promueve-el-cuidado-ambiental/.
