Art exhibit reimagines T.S. Eliot’s ‘The Waste Land’ in times of climate change 

Hannah Verster Explores the Significance of T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land in the Context of Climate Change

Hannah Verster, a masters student in visual arts, has curated a unique interdisciplinary art exhibit that reflects on the concerns and fears of society regarding climate change. Inspired by T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land, which explores the aftermath of World War I, Verster contemplates the ecological concerns expressed in the poem and their relevance to the present day.

Collaboration with Western’s Geology and Earth Sciences Department

Verster collaborated with the geology and earth sciences department at Western University to create the art exhibit titled ‘A heap of broken images: revisiting The Waste Land through art in a time of climate crisis.’

Incorporating Geological Material into the Exhibit

Verster approached Alysha McNeil, geoscience collections curator in the department of earth sciences, with the idea of incorporating geological specimens into the exhibit. The specimens were sourced from Western’s Dana and Suffel collections, which include international ores and high-quality minerals used for research and display.

Exploring Eliot’s Inspirations

To further enhance the exhibit, Verster traveled to England in February 2023 to visit sites that inspired T.S. Eliot’s poem. She collected fragments of shells, rocks, sand, and beach glass from the southeast coastline of Margate, the town where Eliot experienced a nervous breakdown in 1921.

Artwork Reflecting Central Themes of the Poem

The exhibit features artwork by Reilly Knowles, Zachari Logan, Amanda White, and Verster herself. Each piece explores the interconnected narratives of life and death, alienation and rebirth, and ecological devastation and restoration, which are central themes in The Waste Land.

Connecting Eliot’s Ecological Sensibilities to Contemporary Artists

Although not all the artworks are explicitly linked to Eliot’s text, the exhibit highlights the ecological sensibilities shared by Eliot and contemporary artists working in the context of anthropogenic climate change.

Sections of Eliot’s Poem as Inspiration

Eliot’s poem is divided into five sections that discuss societal decay in the aftermath of World War I. Verster and her collaborators have interpreted these themes to represent the modern-day climate crisis.

Interpreting Death and Resurrection through Art

Reilly Knowles’ artwork, titled Dolls, is inspired by the first section of Eliot’s poem, ‘The Burial of the Dead.’ Knowles explores themes of death, resurrection, and personal loss through meticulously stitched dolls that are transformed by steam, plants, and mud.

Contemplating Mortality and Nature’s Influence

Knowles’ piece, Cemetery, is inspired by Eliot’s section ‘Death by Water,’ which reflects on mortality and the inevitability of death. Through this artwork, Knowles explores the ways in which nature affects mortality.

Parallels between Eliot’s Work and the Present Day

Despite the century that separates Eliot’s work from Verster’s exhibit, the parallels between the disruptions caused by World War I and the Spanish Influenza then, and the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis today, are apparent. These parallels highlight the fragility of society at various levels and provide an opportunity for adaptation.

Embracing the Landscape in the Face of Climate Grief

Knowles incorporates scavenged trash into his artwork as a way to find pleasure in the landscape amidst climate grief. He sees the refuse as an integral part of the collective human experience, representing both the positive and negative aspects of our impact on the environment.

Exhibit Details

The exhibit opened for public viewing on July 17, 2023, and will continue until August 21.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

The article discusses the concerns and fears about climate change, ecological devastation, and restoration, which are directly related to SDG 13 (Climate Action). It also mentions the incorporation of geological material and the exploration of environmental themes, which align with SDG 15 (Life on Land).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
• SDG 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.

The article highlights the interdisciplinary art exhibit as a means of raising awareness about climate change and ecological issues, addressing SDG 13.3. Additionally, the incorporation of geological material and exploration of environmental themes contribute to the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, aligning with SDG 15.1.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of art exhibits or educational initiatives addressing climate change and ecological issues.
• Extent of public awareness and understanding of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
• Extent of conservation and restoration efforts in terrestrial ecosystems.

Although the article does not explicitly mention specific indicators, the presence of the interdisciplinary art exhibit and the collaboration between different departments indicate progress towards raising awareness and improving education on climate change and ecological issues. The exhibit itself can be seen as an indicator of efforts to address these topics. Additionally, the incorporation of geological material and exploration of environmental themes suggest a focus on the conservation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: news.westernu.ca

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