Work by 25 artists created in response to seeing the effects of climate change first hand is drawing crowds in China.

U-n-f-o-l-d: A Cultural Response to Climate Change is presented by Cape Farewell, an organisation that pairs up artists and scientists to communicate the scientific challenge of climate change in a direct, personal way.

Red Ice 3 by Chris Wainwright

The touring exhibition showcases work created by artists who took part in expeditions to the fragile environments of the Arctic and Andes, where the effects of our changing climate can be seen most dramatically. The work includes photography by Professor Chris Wainwright, Pro Vice-Chancellor of University of the Arts London, who travelled to Disko Bay, Greenland, in 2008. He says:

“The arctic is a kind of frontline where you can see quite dramatically the way the glaciers have retreated.

“We wanted to bring this exhibition to China because debates about the environment and emissions often focus on what’s happening here. I’ve found that people in China are really concerned about climate change, and there are more environmental projects happening than we might imagine.

“The fact that there were 600 people at the exhibition’s opening in Beijing illustrates the scale of awareness of the issues.”

The exhibition in China

Other highlights of the exhibition include an artificially grown diamond made from the ash of a polar bear bone by artists Ackroyd and Harvey and an LED text display by writer Ian McEwan entitled The Hot Breath of our Civilisation.

The exhibition is co-curated by Chris with David Buckland, Director of Cape Farewell. It arrives in China after touring extensively in Europe and the USA.

It can now be seen at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, until 19 June, and the Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts, Nanjing, from 29 June to 20 July.

Read more:

China Daily
Wall Street Journal
The Guardian