ISLAMABAD: A new exhibition at Gallery 6 titled ‘Climate Change and Art’, which opened on Friday, explored environmental degradation through photographs and paintings.

Twelve artists, photographers, painters, sculptors, filmmakers and a writer took part in the exhibition which explored environmental degradation caused by human actions after being inspired by a retreat in Swat. The Ministry of Climate Change, Gallery 6 and the East-West Centre Association in Islamabad then came together to host the exhibition.

The purpose of the retreat was to enable and inspire the production of art which will attract the media and other stakeholders and raise awareness about the factors leading to global warming and its impacts.

“This will lead to critical thinking and inspire ideas and action for raising awareness about these factors and for combating the negative effects of global warming,” said Dr Arjumand Faisal, the curator the show.

The retreat in Swat, held in August, helped the artists see the effects and consequences of deforestation and unsustainable development, which are leading to global warming, glacial melts and flash floods, which are very visible in Swat where it has caused the destruction of houses and agriculture, Dr Faisal said.

The artists portrayed the breathtaking views of Swat and documented the more disaster prone areas including riverside settlements which were washed away by floods, degraded lands, the absence of birds and wildlife, deforestation and many other effects of climate change.

Short documentaries were also part of the exhibition which discussed climate change and the damage it causes, including interviews with locals, who narrated the effects of massive deforestation, the changing pattern of snowfall on their lives including on the growth of fruit and increased floods which have ruined their homes and lands.

“The artists have put their hearts into the project and the final results are so captivating,” said Sehrish Javed, a visitor to the exhibition.

The exhibition includes Irfan Gul’s painting ‘A little more’, Sadaf Naeem’s ‘Fantasy Garden’, Sana Arjumand’s ‘Scape Within’, which reflect greed and lack of concern for nature. Ahsan Jawaid’s collage ‘Hymns of Freedom’ and SM Khayyam’s works depict the irreparable damage to mountains.

Zainul Abedin’s ‘Lets drive to the green’, Raja Najmul Hassan’s ‘Nostalgia’ and Abid Khan’s paintings of Kalam and Miandam depict tall pine trees and puffs of white clouds across the sky.

Saram Maqbool, Shaheer Ahmed Khan Bangash and Ayesha Akif have photographed the scenery in Swat as well as the destruction caused by climate change.

These include photographs titled ‘Receding Glaciers’, ‘Ravages of Flood’, ‘Brown Development Replacing Green’ and ‘Creeping Concrete’. Federal Secretary for Climate Change Syed Abu Ahmed Akif has also contributed photographs to the exhibition.

Sculptors Ayub Wali and Abbas Shah have worked with two mediums. Ayub has contributed leaves of brass titled ‘Do not make us museum items’, and Shah has included trees sculpted from dead wood, titled ‘Spirit’ to the exhibition. Filmaker Ali Ijaz has documented moments from the retreat in a brief film.

The exhibition will continue till October 9.

Published in Dawn October 8th, 2016