MASTS, Blue Action and Creative Informatics are delighted to announce the two selected artists for the Ocean ARTic artist-in-residency exploring marine climate data. The 6-week Residency will be completed by July 2021 with the expectation for two new artworks to be Commissioned for launch ahead of the UN COP26 climate conference in November 2021.
Composer Michael Begg and environmental artist Eve Mosher are announced as the two artists partnering with marine scientists to explore climate change data relating to changes in the Arctic and the consequences there and closer to home. This project will produce engaging works for public-sharing and influence, which is pertinent in the lead up to COP26.
Michael Begg is an award-winning composer who will be working with large data sets and using them as foundation for his musical compositions. Currently a Creative Informatics Connected Innovator and composer-in-residence at the Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh, his Black Glass Ensemble has previously transformed atmospheric and weather data into pieces at the margins of classical and experimental music. For his Residency Michael is collaborating with scientists to bring together an ‘ensemble’ of data sets to sonify an aural experience of the impact of glacier ice melt in the Arctic. In Michael’s words: “data is the common vocabulary between artists and scientists”.
Eve Mosher in an internationally renowned environmental artist, whose work interrogates how climate change impacts communities and works with them on emotional and intellectual connections to climate change. For her Residency, Eve is exploring the stories of climate scientists and coastal communities most intimately connected to the issue, weaving their lived experience with the research and data. Eve said: “Art can create a personal, even emotional connection to the data. Sharing people’s lived experience of climate change creates a level of understanding which motivates shifts in attitudes and actions in response to the challenges the world faces”.
Ocean ARTic is organised by MASTS People Ocean Planet Initiative in collaboration with Blue Action and Creative Informatics, funded by Creative Scotland and with the support of EcoArtScotLand and Marine Scotland. MASTS and Blue Action are the scientific partners in this project, supporting access to marine scientists. Creative Informatics (CI) is the creative partner in this project; CI is a major research development programme for the creative industries, delivered by the University of Edinburgh in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University, Creative Edinburgh and Codebase, and will support the integration of data into the creative practices.
Amanda Catto, Head of Visual Arts at Creative Scotland said: “Creative thinking and ideas have the power to positively influence and shape public debate and perspective around climate change and provoke action. We are pleased to support this opportunity for award winning composer Michael Begg and internationally renowned environmental artist Eve Mosher to collaborate with marine scientists. This creative exploration of the impacts of climate change on the marine environment will challenge us all to gain a better understanding of changes in the Arctic, how climate change is and will affect Scotland, and what this means for society. This residency and resulting visual and sound artworks are made possible thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players, who raise £30 million for good causes across the UK every week.”
If you wish to hear more about this project and hear Michael and Eve speak about their first weeks in the Residency, please tune in to the Creative Informatics Innovation Showcase on Tuesday 8th of June between 3-4pm. You can book here.