Artist Spotlight

Dylan is a Senior Researcher at the Environmental Learning Research Centre at Rhodes University and an artist known for integrating theater into legal and environmental justice advocacy. He will explore how the arts disrupt traditional knowledge hierarchies and foster legal innovations and social change in ocean governance.

Vladimir Opredelenov is a visionary leader in the intersection of art and digital technology. As the Ambassador and Chief Digital Officer at.ART Registry and the Founder of Art&Tech Digital Agency TECH4.ART he is dedicated to advancing the integration of art and culture with cutting-edge technology. His work is driven by the belief that art is a fundamental force for societal development.

Diego Galafassi, a Brazilian transdisciplinary artist, is at the forefront of blending art with social change. His work, recognized globally, uses art to promote community resilience and sustainability. Diego believes in art's power to catalyze systemic change. His projects showcase a commitment to addressing environmental and social challenges through creative expression.

Dr. Shireen Rahimi is a filmmaker and marine scientist, who combines her talents as a freediving cinematographer and National Geographic Explorer to lead Lightpalace Productions in Miami. Her storytelling highlights our emotional bond with nature. She focuses on narratives that inspire action and healing in response to ecological challenges.

Paul Rosero Contreras combines art and science to explore life's resilience and adaptation. His work intersects with academic fields like Ecology and Archaeology, contributing to social projects in Ecuador. Paul sees potential for collaboration within the Transformations Community's "pracademic" approach.

Our global motivation is to find ways to help return the world to ecological (and social) balance and to give back more to the life web than we take. Our mission statement highlights our challenge.

"We are not apart from nature; we are a part of nature. This is a central paradox of modern life. Our challenge as artists, scientists, activists, and humans is to bring us back into the system we are only a part of.”

This month's spotlight is ikonoTV, the unique streaming platform dedicated exclusively to art-related films and videos. Founded by the visionary social entrepreneur, Elizabeth Markevitch, ikonoTV aims to bring art into people's daily lives. With a curated collection of Contemporary Video Artists and mesmerizing Slow & Silence videos focused on Old Masterworks, ikonoTV is like a Netflix for art lovers. But it doesn't stop there.

Sound Matters was founded in 2014, following a series of conversations between Mike Edwards and Harry Coade. These conversations, which took place in London pubs, cafes, and galleries, focused on how sound and listening could be used to create more sustainable and resilient futures. Mike and Harry discovered a unique and deep synergy between their disparate areas of expertise and began to further explore how they could apply this knowledge and insight.

Cédric Carles is an artist, DJ and innovator. Over twenty years, Cédric’s Atelier21 have hosted 1000 solar & bicycle-powered dance parties, exhibited at multiple UN Climate COPs, and implemented low-tech and renewable energy systems with communities around the world. His practice bridges the arts and sciences and harnesses our past to transform our future culture & infrastructure.

Creative practices are underused in the urgent task of changing cultures towards sustainability.

CreaTures – Creative Practices for Transformational Futures is EU Horizon 2020 research project investigating the potential of creative practices in art, design, and related cultural fields to support positive eco-social change.

Christophe sees art as being at the heart of society. The name of his gallery is ‘Maan Neere,’ meaning ‘to do beautiful/good.’ He writes stories into his painting using calligraphy, while the art expresses his peoples hardships and their aspirations.

In her work, Catherine weaves together the catastrophes ahead, social unrest, and how art play a critical role in planetary repair. With a training in molecular biology, fine art, and interactive design, Catherine is facing the challenges ahead by devoting herself to her practices.

Ten years ago Patricio quit working in conservation and to refuge himself in the art world. He describes art as a interesting communication tool that touches your emotional inner self.

Smuts-Kennedy’s practice is focused on a research based investigation into fields of energy as they engage with conceptual thinking both within an art based language and other intuition driven modes of enquiry.

With its maps and videos, Globaïa has invented a new style of visual information aimed at disseminating scientific data on environmental and social issues.

The goal of the Land Art Generator is to accelerate the transition to post-carbon economies by providing models of renewable energy infrastructure that add value to public space, inspire, and educate—while providing equitable power to homes around the world.

Image: Cloud Field, shortlisted, LAGI 2019 Abu Dhabi

Mariko is a Japanese multidisciplinary artist known for her photographs, sculptures, videos and performance pieces which often involve surreal or science-fiction-like objects and imagery. Her work often explores themes of technology, spirituality, and transcendence. Her works are in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris among others.