Help us choose the best art of 2009

December 15, 2009 by William Shaw
Filed under: William Shaw 

Still from Flooded MacDonalds, Superflex, 2009

It has been an extraordinary year for art that responds to issues surrounding the environment. In the (almost) five years since we have been operating, there has never been so much great work being produced. Art never speaks with a single voice, but there has been an increasing cluster of activity around climate change, politics and the enviroment.

It’s time to compile our annual list of the best of the year. We have an embarrassment of riches to chose from. Radical Nature at the Barbican; 100 Days at the Arnolfini; Denmark’s RETHINK; Steve Water’s The Contingency Plan at the Bush Theatre; Artsadmin’s 2 Degrees; Heather and Ivan Morison’s The Black Cloud; Franny Armstrong’s The Age of Stupid, Manchester’s Environment 2.0 at Futuresonic 2009, Superflex’s Flooded McDonalds Petko Dourmana’s Post Global Warming Survival Kit or one of the Yes Men’s interventions – like their one yesterday at COP15 which proved so embarrassing to the Canadians … that’s just dipping our toes in the water.

What were your highlights of the year – and why? What have I criminally overlooked in that above list? What were the best books and stories – the best films? We want to include your comments in the piece which we’ll put up on the main RSA Arts & Ecology Centre website.

Tell us in the comment field below – or email me at william.shaw@rsa.org.uk.

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Comments

5 Comments on Help us choose the best art of 2009

  1. Libby Davy on Tue, 15th Dec 2009 9:37 pm

    2. Well as much as I was inspired by Radical Nature at the Barbican, it was difficult to find and rather elite.

    By contrast, The Age of Stupid and the 10:10 campaign supporting it, proved yet again how powerful the medium of film is for communicating emotional and technical messages.

    My only proviso would be that Age of Stupid was not supported by a facilitation framework to enable us to find our own solutions, nor did it propose them effectively. We were left shell shocked, looking for answers. At the two screenings I attended (one of which I co-convened for the RSA), there was little offered from the organisers or at a grassroots level for supporting our way forward. In future, I hope that 10:10 / AOS will offer a simple kit for how to host the screening that enables us to better come up with our own solutions, based on their experience drawn for 100s of others hosting them.

    I would also suggest that they produce / distribute a more effective trailer for viral release – regardless of who sees the film or not – this can be impactful in itself.

  2. William Shaw on Tue, 15th Dec 2009 11:00 pm

    3. Very well put, Libby. That said, I think the follow up or grassroots support was probably still better in relation to The Age of Stupid than it has been in many art events.

  3. Michaela Crimmin on Thu, 17th Dec 2009 3:07 pm

    4. OK I’m biased maybe, but Dalson Mill was extraordinary! I have a copy of the comments book which is an absolute affirmation that people want to participate in creating activities and places that are quirky and open. The space that EXYST created was extraordinary in its welcome not only to arts and architecture lovers, and people interested in environmental issues, but to anyone living locally, or who were simply curious. They are currently working on plans for the gateway to the site which is vital – there’s too much that’s one off (exhibition, commissions, projects).

    The Black Cloud by Heather & Ivan Morison, curated by Situations, was also wonderful – and shared the generosity of Dalston Mill. From poets, to children drawing, to scientists discussing the future, to fireworks and a puppet show, the structure was incredibly powerful and somehow alive.

    Its not only artworks and events, the year should be celebrated for the initiatives of Julie’s Bicycle, Cape Farewell, Tipping Point, the dynamism of Peter Head, Platform, and too many inspirational and driven people to list. For the way in which the Arts Council, Tate and the British Council are working to ensure sustainability becomes integral to their work. This year has seen so much growth and diversity across the arts as Copenhagen struggles to come to an agreement.

  4. Dave Pritchard on Sun, 20th Dec 2009 8:00 pm

    5. Depends what you mean by “of 2009″, but if the stuff in Radical Nature qualifies, then the 2009 exhibition of Giuseppe Penone’s work at Ikon in Birmingham is my nomination. If you want your responses to environmental issues to avoid (a) unecological land art (b) ill-informed bandwaggonism and (c) sentimentality, then for me, Penone’s body of work treads a brilliant line between all those, and scores on its sheer integrity.

  5. William Shaw on Sun, 20th Dec 2009 9:09 pm

    6. Thanks very much for that, Dave… Will throw it in the pot.

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