Rising Tide: Art and Environment in Oceania
12 Aug 2023 - 14 Apr 2024
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free
© Fenton Lutunatabua / 350.org
© Fenton Lutunatabua / 350.org
Delve into the most important and pressing issue of our time, humanity’s damaging relationship with planet Earth.
This urgent issue is felt especially deeply in Australia and the Pacific Islands where sea levels are rising due to climate change and the oceans are filling with plastic.
Rising Tide considers our relationship to the natural environment through contemporary responses to climate change and plastic waste by Indigenous Australian and Pacific Islander artists. Master fisherman Anthony C Guerrero's contemporary woven baskets made from plastic construction strapping found on his local beach in Guam will be on display. The exhibition hosts the latest version of artist George Nuku’s installation, Bottled Ocean 2123, which imagines the state of the oceans 100 years into the future in an immersive, undersea landscape crafted from single use plastic bottles.
One of Anthony C Guerrero's woven baskets, made from plastic waste collected from his local beach (V.2020.9.2).
Rising Tide also features historical material from National Museums Scotland's collections, such as spear points from the Kimberley region of Western Australia made by Aboriginal men from discarded glass bottles.
The vulnerabilities of Oceanic countries to climate change will be highlighted, whilst showcasing the strength and resilience of their diverse communities.
One of a series of images entitled 'Raise A Paddle' by Fenton Lutunatabua. © Fenton Lutunatabua / 350.org
Spotlight On: Rising Tide
Dr Ali Clark, joined virtually by some of the artists featured in the exhibition, discusses how Indigenous Australian and Pacific Islander artists are responding to the climate crisis with works that showcase the strength and resilience of their diverse communities. Highlighting examples from the exhibition, they will consider the use of art as a means of protest. Followed by a live audience Q&A.
Spotlight On: Rising Tide
Rising Tide Resources
In 2019, Scotland declared a climate emergency. What can I do? Discover helpful resources on how you can get politically active and help to reduce your carbon footprint and the amount of single-use plastic in the environment.
Rising Tide: What can I do?Getting here
Access
We want everyone who comes to our museums to enjoy their time with us and make the most of their visit.
- There is level access to the Museum via the main doors to the Entrance Hall on Chambers Street and the Tower entrance at the corner of Chambers Street and George IV Bridge.
- Lifts are available to all floors and accessible toilets are available on most floors, as well as a Changing Places (U) toilet in the Entrance Hall on Level 0.
- There is an induction loop in the Auditorium.
- Guide dogs, hearing dogs and other recognised assistance dogs are admitted.
Find out more about our access information.
