'Artists can work with scientists to confront climate change'

By Jamie Ardor

The way that people and organisations often speak about the planet is often very negative. There is clearly a reason for that, but the constant, persistent negativity can often drive people away rather than encourage them to take action.

So with projects involving the climate crisis I've tried to shift that perception, and encourage people to realise that all hope is not lost.

That’s what my work for World Oceans Day aims to do. The Reversible Pendulum is a looping animation that goes back and forth between Man's destruction and the planet’s healing.

An oil rig pump gradually destroys a wild ocean scene. Sea level rises, the water overheats, corals bleach. The fish begin to disappear, and jellyfish and squid overwhelm the habitat. 

But as the water rises, it reaches a peak and then pours over the ground, switching off the oil rig pump in the process. A tree begins to bloom, vegetation grows and the mycelium – the underground fungal network that links so much of what we see above ground – starts to recover. Eventually the water becomes purer and the fish return.

That's the loop that we're creating. A ticking pendulum reminds us that time is constantly moving forward – but the damage is reversible.

Visual communication is such a key tool for any kind of message that you want to share, whether it be in support of a cause or just selling products. 

Different people have different skill sets and capabilities, and they use those skills to help take action and solve problems.

Artists and creatives are no different therefore to scientists and engineers: we can all use our skills, our professions and our passions to help face the climate crisis and make a difference. It’s a cause in which we should all be united.

The climate march in London in September 2019 was the moment when it really kicked off for me in terms of climate activism. I became an activist, and tried to do my part.

But on top of that, I also work for an engineering and consultancy firm. One of our biggest missions is to reach Net Zero. We consult with government organisations, companies and builders in an effort to reach key climate targets.

My role is in visual communication: how can I best share the message with the public? I’ve been very lucky to find my calling in a professional environment, while also keeping true to my personal beliefs.

The challenges facing us are terrifying. Frankly it can be easy to feel that it's too late for us to do anything about it.

But I will hold on to optimism. I will hold on to hope until my dying breath: we can still do this.