Series of Animations, 2012
Potential Endings is a series of four silent looping animations considering the much debated human causes of climate change, its effects and its perpetuation. The work was conceived after a trip to Thailand in 2004 where I spent five weeks experiencing a paradise that would soon become tsunami ravaged. On hearing news reports about the damage there, I spent time walking around my hometown measuring the skyline to the size of the waves that had hit those islands. The work was made slowly over many years and through significant research into the cause and effect of climate change. If the work is shown any fee will be donated to recent tsunami relief funds and global environmental disaster charities.
Global warming, so what? we’re getting too hot. Better tanning. But add in several shrinking glaciers and the significant changes to the plant and animal kingdoms will ultimately effect our food supply and homes. Look at the news – extreme drought and heat waves now happen more often. The result could be further water shortages – a vital resource that many take for granted and assume will be available forever.
Fossil fuels are used carelessly causing rising sea levels which could cause millions who live in coastal regions to lose their homes. Migration continues, including insects seeking warming climates, who travel carrying diseases with them. In addition, with the continually rising temperature of the ocean there is an increased chance of more powerful and frequent hurricanes.
The carbon majors report (2017) blamed 100 companies as the source of more than 70% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions since 1988. The upshot if this trend is continued is average global temperatures will rise by 4 degrees by the end of the century. The result being huge levels of species extinction and a lack of food to sustain us.
The Potential Endings series looks at the idea of extinction as a silent ominous threat sitting ignored like the elephant in the room. This series of animations was made using a now extinct software programme Macromedia Flash, a tiny aspect of a wealth of extinct technological innovations which have been confined to history and landfill. I’m no expert but it’s clear that as a species our focus for innovation should move towards renewable energy in a bid to eliminate our dependency on fossil fuels.
Potential Endings series exhibited at Facing Extinction, UCA Farnham, 2012; Mission Gallery, Swansea, 2012; Being Human Festival, University of London, 2012;
The Iceberg selected for Angelika Art Prize by judges – Gavin Delahunty (Head of Exhibitions, TATE Liverpool), Godfrey Worsdale (Director, BALTIC centre for contemporary art), Anthony Spira (Director, Milton Keynes gallery), Susanna Brown (Curator, Photographs, Victoria & Albert Museum)
Exhibited at Matt Roberts Arts, 25b Vyner Street, London, 12 October – 3 November, 2012
The Comet selected for National Open Competition by judges – S. Mark Gubb; Cathy Lomax; Mandy Ure
Exhibited at Motorcade/Flash Parade, BV Studios, Bristol, 9 – 18 December, 2011
The Flood exhibited in From Here and There at Clara Hatton Gallery, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA, 26 September – 26 October, 2014
