16th August 2023
A local artist questions the relationships between humans and ‘nature’ of the climate crisis in a new exhibition.
‘Seeds of Change’ is on display from Wednesday 23 August at Prospect Gallery, Hull city centre. It is a celebration of radical kindness towards the more-than-human world and includes work that visual artist, Lauren Saunders has made in the studio, outdoors, in collaboration with more-than-human beings and alongside various community groups.
This solo exhibition is a call to compassionate climate action. Within a blend of art, philosophy, climate science, magic and direct experience, this exhibition argues for transformation and radical kindness towards the more-than-human in the face of the climate crisis.
Visitors will get the chance to see drawings, living sculptures, installation, human:non-human creative collaborations, film and featuring creative outcomes from various participatory projects which have taken place.
Councillor Rob Pritchard, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, said: “This thought-provoking exhibition is based around Lauren’s recent research and work with local community groups. It encourages you to consider the environment around us in a creative way.”
Lauren Sunders, said: “For too long we've been placing our own species above all others... but what we've learnt from that is how devastatingly unsustainable that approach is.
“Seeds of Change is a research-led, practice-based expression of a kinder, more respectful alternative in which we value, respect, and learn from the more-than-human world.
“Creating this body of work has been so transformational for me in the way that I've been thinking about life, sustainability, and how we interact with the other beings we share this planet with, and I hope this exhibition sows some seeds for positive transformation in others too. I'm so excited to finally be able to share this work within our community!”
Hull Maritime funded an element of her research that forms part of the exhibition, a creative course 'Riverspeaking' for students from the Recovery College. Participants took part in a project that creatively explored what it means to have a relationship with Hull’s water. Taking an autoethnographical perspective, participants were asked to reflect and creatively respond to their experiences and personal relationship with water to consider how other Hull citizens ought to live compassionately and sensitively alongside the water as a maritime city of the future.
You can visit the exhibition from 23 August and is open every Wednesday, 1 - 6pm, Friday 11am - 4pm and Saturday 11am - 3pm until 15 September.
