Little Amal puppet meaning ‘hope’ in Arabic, representing the world’s millions of displaced children at COP26

‘Artivism’, like other forms of art, has limitless interpretations. The convergence of art and activism can harness the critical imagination, invite reflection and raise the voices of those who have lost faith in politics and the socioeconomic systems, through the wild creations of art.

An artist is at the same time a political being constantly alert to the horrifying, passionate or pleasing events in the world, shaping him/her self completely in their image… painting is not made to decorate apartments. It's an offensive and defensive weapon against the enemy.
Pablo Picasso

Systems thinker Donella Meadows once said ‘no one can [precisely] define or measure justice, democracy, security, freedom, truth, or love’. But through ‘artivism’ we can speak up for them. Besides using traditional mediums like film and music to raise awareness or inspire change, an ‘artivist’ can also be involved in culture jamming, subvertising, street art, spoken word, installation or landsculpturing. I have been part of a generation of restless, forward-thinking, hopeful ‘artivists’ deeply engaged in the quest to re-design the human presence on earth.

The concept of ‘artivism’ emerged around the Earth Summit in 1992, when a group of international ‘artivists’ gathered at the Sundance Institute in Utah hosted by Robert Redford, to co-evolve ideas on how to probe, broaden and convey the concept of ‘sustainable development’ through arts. This was followed by the Movement of Artists for Nature in Brazil reclaiming key public spaces, including the National Theatre in the capital of Brazilia by over 100 artivists from 50 countries, who were preparing to take over the iconic Sugar Loaf of Rio for 10 days, under the so called Omane Project.

Climate Change multi media installation at Kochi Bienalle in Kerala haunted by its own climate catastrophe 2019

The Earth Summit in 1992, was, for a United Nations conference, unprecedented both in terms of size and scope. It brought together over a hundred world leaders and took place under intense media scrutiny, as a host of future markers were set. Hundreds of ‘artivists’ under Projeto Omame also attended. There was palpable excitement in the air: we had more NGOs in Rio than had ever assembled before. ‘We had more heads of government, presidents, prime ministers and a couple of Kings’ reflected Maurice Strong, secretary general of the Earth Summit.

Artists Project Earth

That’s where the idea of Artists Project Earth was seeded, and it is still thriving today. For three decades through music, film and the arts, APE-UK has engaged with global debates that mostly concern human in the living planet – climate change, the state of the Amazon and its people, the health of the oceans, amongst other concerns. The Spirit of the Forest EP marked 30 years of the APE’s commitment to raising awareness of the indigenous rainforest communities in Brazil and their fight for land rights and biodiversity integrity.

Since 2005, APE has produced Afro-Caribbean collaborations with top international musicians. Kenny Young, the APE’s co-founder, drew on his unrivalled connections in the music world to persuade artists such as Red Chili Peppers, U2, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Radiohead, Mumford & Sons, Arctic Monkeys, REM, Beck, Amy Winehouse, Bob Dylan, Eminem, Miriam Makeba, Laura Mvula, Pharrell Williams, Bruno Mars, Aloe Black, and many others to donate their tracks to APE. The funds we raised have, so far, supported 480 climate action and disaster relief projects across the world.

We are delighted to have been able to help passionate individuals and organisations to raise awareness and inspire change in the pressing fields of climate justice, fossil fuel dependencies, reforestation, agro-forestry, wildlife protection, reef conservation, marine plastic pollution, seed saving projects, wetlands restoration, and more. Now we are supporting artists fleeing Ukraine, either by commissioning new art forms, connecting them with collective of artists or resourcing musical instruments and art materials to strengthen the continuity of their courageous creative expression. Tetiana Hurn has just delivered her first painting on arrival in UK- Spirit of the Forest- reminding APE of its 30 years commitment to the Amazonian forest and her peoples.

Artists Project Earth & 'Artivism' - when courage, art and restlessness converge

Artists Project Earth