UCSC artist micha cárdenas presents the exhibition “Probability Engine: Atlantic Overturning,” highlighting urgent climate change issues. Inspired by Tim Lenton’s warnings about impending tipping points, cárdenas utilizes interactive artwork to engage the public in climate justice discourse. The exhibition runs through Nuit Blanche in Toronto, aiming to create a visceral experience through sculptures and poetry relating to global warming and ecological collapse.
In the face of alarming climate shifts, micha cárdenas, an Associate Professor at UC Santa Cruz, is advocating for urgent action through her latest exhibition, “Probability Engine: Atlantic Overturning,” inaugurated on October 5 at Nuit Blanche in Toronto, a renowned contemporary art event. Her work resonates with the warnings presented by climate expert Tim Lenton, whose 2022 report identified critical tipping points threatening global ecosystems. Cárdenas expressed her concerns over the current state of global warming, already 1.44 degrees Celsius above historic averages, and highlighted the risks posed by impending climatic thresholds, including the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). With the exhibition expected to attract over 200,000 visitors, it aims to provide an immersive journey through climate justice themes via interactive sculptures and virtual reality. Curator Syrus Ware emphasized the exhibition’s blend of seriousness with a sense of play, inviting the audience to envision transformative futures amidst these urgent themes. A centerpiece of the exhibition, the sculpture “Atlantic Overturning,” mimics the critical AMOC system crucial for global temperature regulation. Supported by a multidisciplinary team, cárdenas has crafted this artwork in the context of scientific insights from sources that warn of the possible rapid collapse of AMOC due to climate change. Cárdenas views art not merely as aesthetic but as a catalyst for real-world change. Her past collaborations include projects aimed at enhancing safety for marginalized groups and addressing the broader social implications of climate distress. In her exhibition, she employs poetic expressions linked to the sculptures to incite emotional connections to climate issues, emphasizing the need for collective resistance against environmental injustice. With a clear vision, cárdenas articulates the role of art in fostering awareness and inspiring societal shifts toward sustainability and justice in the face of impending climate collapse.
The ongoing climate crisis raises alarming concerns regarding various ecological tipping points that could severely disrupt global ecosystems. Notably, in late 2022, Tim Lenton, a prominent climate scientist, warned of critical changes, including the instability of ice sheets and shifts in ocean currents. The increasing global temperature, nearing dangerous levels, poses unprecedented threats to diverse ecosystems. In this context, art has emerged as a powerful tool for raising awareness and inspiring action against climate change, prompting artists like micha cárdenas to blend artistic practice with environmental advocacy to effectively communicate these urgent issues to the public.
In conclusion, micha cárdenas’s exhibition “Probability Engine: Atlantic Overturning” serves as a crucial platform for raising awareness about the severe implications of climate change and the necessity for immediate action. By employing immersive and interactive artistic practices, she not only underscores the existential threats posed by climate tipping points but also invites the audience to participate in collective resistance against injustice. Through her work, cárdenas exemplifies how art can elicit emotional responses and foster critical dialogues surrounding environmental crises, ultimately striving toward a more sustainable and equitable future.
Original Source: news.ucsc.edu
