King Tide; How Climate Change Relates To The Art World
WHAT IS KING TIDE?
It’s not every day that you might see an article about the relationship between the moon’s orbit and rising tides. Have you ever wondered what the relationship between climate change and art is? Maybe not. But, it’s what inspired my latest collection. “King Tide” is a popular, non-scientific term people often use to describe exceptionally high tides that occur during a new or full moon. Just because it isn’t a scientific term, or not used in a scientific context, the expression originated in Australia, New Zealand, and other Pacific nations to describe especially high tides that occur a few times per year. It is now used in North America as well, particularly in low-lying South Florida. King Tides occur when the orbits and alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun combine to produce the greatest tidal effects of the year. King Tides bring unusually high water levels, and they can cause local tidal flooding. Over time, sea-level rise is raising the height of tidal systems. These events are important because they show what average water levels might look like in the future based on sea-level rise projections.
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CLIMATE CHANGE AND ART
Now that you’ve had a little history lesson on the King Tides, you might be wondering how something as tidal flooding or high tides might relate to climate change or relate to the Art World. But, before we dive into the magnificent relationship between the two, let’s look into a major topic that has been debated for decades.
Whether you believe in climate change or not, one thing that can’t be ignored is the fact that our world is changing around us whether we like to admit it or not. While scientists aren't certain whether climate change has led to more hurricanes, they are confident that rising sea levels lead to higher storm surges and more floods. Permafrost (a thick subsurface layer of soil that remains frozen throughout the year, occurring mainly in polar regions) is thawing, rising sea levels, and melting glaciers. But, in our day-to-day lives, those changes can be hard to see. Most of us don’t live near glaciers or beaches. So, maybe we need art to see the problem. Climate change art is art inspired by climate change and global warming generally intended to overcome humans’ hardwired tendency to value personal experience over data-based representations by making the data “vivid and accessible”. The intention is to make an emotional connection through the power of art. This style of art is created both by scientists and non-scientists.
This type of art, as with any type, can be so powerful and so meaningful that it captures the viewers’ attention in a way that ordinarily might not be thought of. It sends a message, almost a wake-up call to the people that may or may not understand the effects of climate change. And for some people, that may not believe in this highly debated issue affecting us, art symbolizes a physical aura that makes one think, even a little bit, even if they don’t like to talk about it.
The brilliance of art, when it displays the raw emotion of a topic that may be sensitive to some, can inspire change for others. That’s the emotional connection of the art world.
When you’re talking about the history of a topic, years ago you would read an encyclopedia to get your knowledge and learn about whatever topic you’re interested in. In today’s world, we have the power of the internet, which is a lot faster of course to get your information but, still takes some time to obtain. With art, you can see history in the past, present, and future, on one painted canvas. It’s almost like a rush of emotion that makes you appreciate the topic even more. In a way, it speaks to you without you knowing it. Different types of art, whether it be abstract, painted, or sculptures, the relationship between art and climate change is it allows one’s perspective to open their mind to what has happened and imagines scenarios of change for the future.
WHEN DID IT ALL START?
It’s been more than three decades since climate change made front-page news. In 1988, The New York Times published an article titled “Global Warming Has Begun”. Ever since then, debates have been created and discussed about the possible impact that climate change will have on the present day and into the future. Since then, artists all over the world have come together and started a movement, if you will, of the negative impact of climate change and in the art world, coming together to provide positive change in a highly debated topic. We as an artist, aren’t trying to sway you one way or another, but rather just make you think on a level that normally isn’t thought upon. It’s that one painting, one sculpture, one drawing that could possibly make a change in society for people to stop and think, “What can I do to make a difference?”