Micha cárdenas, an artist and academic, launched her exhibition “Probability Engine: Atlantic Overturning” at Nuit Blanche in Toronto, highlighting the severe implications of climate change as outlined in Tim Lenton’s research. The exhibition features interactive sculptures and virtual experiences portraying the risks of climate tipping points, including the potential collapse of crucial ocean currents. Cárdenas aims to evoke emotional responses and inspire societal change through her art, emphasizing the need for collective action to address climate justice.
In micha cárdenas’ latest exhibition, “Probability Engine: Atlantic Overturning,” which premiered on October 5 at Nuit Blanche in Toronto, she vividly addresses the imminent threats of climate change through innovative multimedia art. Cárdenas, who holds the position of Associate Professor of Critical Race & Ethnic Studies and Performance, Play & Design at the University of California, Santa Cruz, draws inspiration from ominous findings regarding climate tipping points, particularly articulated in a report by Tim Lenton of the Global Systems Institute. Lenton’s alarming assertions about potential collapse of ice sheets and significant alterations in ocean currents resonate deeply with cárdenas, who describes his report as “the scariest thing I have ever read”. She emphasizes that the current global temperature rise of 1.44 degrees Celsius is perilously close to triggering catastrophic consequences. Her exhibition aims to engage over 200,000 attendees expected at Nuit Blanche and extends through October 13, presenting sculptures and virtual reality experiences that convey the urgency of climate justice. The centerpiece, “Atlantic Overturning,” is a striking 15-foot-long sculpture representing the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), an essential ocean current system, which studies show may soon face collapse. Cárdenas collaborated on this installation with fellow artists Marcelo Díaz Viana Neto and Star-Hagen Esquerra, incorporating augmented reality to enhance visitor interaction. Other notable installations include “The Probability Engine,” which projects future climate scenarios, “Permafrost,” illustrating the effects of thawing permafrost, and “The Last Piece of Antarctic Ice,” highlighting the implications of rising sea levels. Furthermore, an augmented reality app complements the exhibition by enabling visitors to visualize potential future landscapes ravaged by climate change. Cárdenas advocates for the transformative power of art, emphasizing its role in conveying the emotional stakes of climate change. Through her poetry and artwork, she strives to catalyze collective action and awareness, facilitating connections that prompt viewers to reconsider their relationship with climate justice. Cárdenas remarks, “I think the power of art resides in reaching people on an emotional and affective level. Scientists try to reach people on a logical level”. As she intertwines art with activism, cárdenas presents the exhibition as an invitation for society to re-evaluate its trajectory toward a sustainable future. The exhibition is supported by various organizations, including the Arts Division and the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience. For further details and to access cárdenas’ poem “We Will Be The Tipping Point”, visit the Critical Realities Studio website.
The urgency around climate change has gained considerable attention, particularly concerning potential tipping points—critical thresholds in Earth’s systems, after which significant and often irreversible changes can occur. Tim Lenton, a renowned expert in climate systems, has highlighted looming threats, such as the disintegration of ice sheets and shifts in current patterns, leading to grave consequences for ecosystems and humanity alike. Recent estimates indicate that global temperatures have already risen to perilous levels, reinforcing the need for immediate action. In this context, artists like micha cárdenas leverage their medium to initiate conversations around these potentially catastrophic outcomes, using engaging installations to foster critical thought and collective action among viewers.
micha cárdenas’ “Probability Engine: Atlantic Overturning” serves as a profound artistic commentary on the urgent crises posed by climate change. By combining visual art with interactive technology, the exhibition not only raises awareness of potential tipping points but also seeks to inspire action among its audience. Through powerful sculptures and accompanying poetry, cárdenas encapsulates the emotional nuances of climate justice, urging individuals to acknowledge their role as catalysts for change. Ultimately, this exhibition stands as a testament to the impactful synergy between art and advocacy in the fight against climate catastrophe.
Original Source: news.ucsc.edu
