Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis, Hayward Gallery, review ★★★★★
Installation view of Agnes Dener's pyramid. Photo: Mark Blower. Image courtesy Hayward Gallery
The climate crisis is arguably the most important issue affecting the planet right now and understandably this is reflected in the practices of artists today. Hayward Gallery has gathered together the work of 15 international artists working on environmental issues for its Dear Earth exhibition – a title we assume is meant to be seen as a love letter to our planet.
It’s an installation heavy and highly photogenic exhibition with a tree suspended from the ceiling as we enter and a flashing neon sign declaring climate change is real – though we suspect very few regular gallery visitors will be denying the fact. Thankfully the other works by Andrea Bowers are stronger, as they show humans lamenting over lost species in paintings on repurposed cardboard.
Himali Singh Soin’s film wandering through an Arctic landscape with abandoned coal mines is a double sided video hanging over water to represent the melting ice in a poetic work amplified by the beautiful installation. The impressive installations continue upstairs as Agnes Denes presents a five metre tall living pyramid of plants, bringing nature itself into the gallery – she’s best known for having planted a wheatfield on a landfill tip in New York with a photograph on show here, and this is another memorable intervention.
Other striking works include Ackroyd and Harvey’s portraits of environmental activists made using grass - covering certain sections to keep them away from light so a portrait is ‘painted’ or grown in the grass. And out on the terrace we’re watched by a sculpture made up of enlarged bird’s eyes and birdsong from endangered species both in the UK and abroad by Jenny Kendler.
If this all sounds like too much doom and gloom for one visit then it’s best to head to Cristina Iglesias’ meditative installation where we get to sit above layers of rock as water filters through it in a peaceful chamber that it would be easy to spend hours in.
Will visitors come away with a renewed sense to combat climate change? Maybe not. However, what they will find is some spectacular and thoughtful artworks on the biggest issue humanity is facing right now.
Second image of Andrea Blower's installation and third image of Himali Singh Soin. Both photos: Mark Blower, courtesy Hayward Gallery.
It’s an installation heavy and highly photogenic exhibition with a tree suspended from the ceiling as we enter and a flashing neon sign declaring climate change is real – though we suspect very few regular gallery visitors will be denying the fact. Thankfully the other works by Andrea Bowers are stronger, as they show humans lamenting over lost species in paintings on repurposed cardboard.
Himali Singh Soin’s film wandering through an Arctic landscape with abandoned coal mines is a double sided video hanging over water to represent the melting ice in a poetic work amplified by the beautiful installation. The impressive installations continue upstairs as Agnes Denes presents a five metre tall living pyramid of plants, bringing nature itself into the gallery – she’s best known for having planted a wheatfield on a landfill tip in New York with a photograph on show here, and this is another memorable intervention.
Other striking works include Ackroyd and Harvey’s portraits of environmental activists made using grass - covering certain sections to keep them away from light so a portrait is ‘painted’ or grown in the grass. And out on the terrace we’re watched by a sculpture made up of enlarged bird’s eyes and birdsong from endangered species both in the UK and abroad by Jenny Kendler.
If this all sounds like too much doom and gloom for one visit then it’s best to head to Cristina Iglesias’ meditative installation where we get to sit above layers of rock as water filters through it in a peaceful chamber that it would be easy to spend hours in.
Will visitors come away with a renewed sense to combat climate change? Maybe not. However, what they will find is some spectacular and thoughtful artworks on the biggest issue humanity is facing right now.
Second image of Andrea Blower's installation and third image of Himali Singh Soin. Both photos: Mark Blower, courtesy Hayward Gallery.
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| What | Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis, Hayward Gallery, review |
| Where | Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Waterloo (underground) |
| When |
21 Jun 23 – 03 Sep 23, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Price | £15 |
| Website | Click here for more information and to book |