Luis Camnitzer among participating artists in Biennale de l'Art et de la Nature Urbaine: (re)connecting.earth (02): Beyond Water on the banks of Lake Geneva, Switzerland.
Biennale de l'Art et de la Nature Urbaine's press release follows:
From September 1st to October 1st, the Biennial will be presenting the works of 32 Swiss and International artists linked to environmental issues. In addition, a 30-day program focused on water and biodiversity around the harbour and natural sites in the city of Geneva will foster exchanges between art, science, and ecological theory.
Organised in collaboration with artistic, scientific and environmental institutions, the Biennial of Art and Urban Nature (re)connecting.earth (02) – Beyond Water curated by Bernard Vienat (art-werk) presents works of art that draw attention to the nature that surrounds us on a daily basis. In addition to exhibitions at various sites close to the ports of the Mouettes genevoises, such as the Bains des Pâquis and the premises of the Association pour la Sauvegarde du Léman, a month-long program features performance workshops, film screenings, and a symposium to reflect on the links between art and ecology, to overwhelm what philosopher Baptiste Morizot has called a crisis of sensitivity.
The Biennial features 15 new artists productions outdoor, among them two conceptual gardens realised by Maria Thereza Alves and Uriel Orlow, an indoor exhibition focused on an exchange between historical positions of environmental art such has Hans Haacke and Mark Dion, in exchange with younger artists such as Pinar Yoldas and Diana Lelonek. The Biennial also offers an opportunity to discover different satellite nature sites in the city, such as the Pointe à la Bise reserve. Accessible to all generations, (re)connecting.earth (02) – Beyond Water focused particularly on an extended educational program. During the month of September, workshops for nearly 2,000 primary school children are organised, giving them a fun way to learn about sustainable development, and experiment with creative practice. By presenting works created by artists sensitive to environmental issues, this Biennial of Art and Urban Nature aims to highlight the diversity of urban ecosystems and of contemporary artistic production linked to ecology. It explores the capacity of art to draw attention to the rest of the living world, in order to take better care of it.
The Biennial (re)connecting.earth (02) – Beyond Water promotes a sustainable approach to the production and diffusion of art, from design to the recovery of materials used, including transport and the integration of a mobility plan. The newly-created works have been designed by the artists to be presented in other exhibitions in Switzerland and abroad, while reducing CO2 emissions as much as possible. This responsible approach aims not only to minimise the pollution caused, but also to promote energy savings and more sustainable production in the art world.
