Art, Environment and Social Change

The Art, Environment and Social Change Research Group identifies the triad of art, environment, and social change as key theoretical frameworks in responding to the current ecological crisis through the optics of art, beyond a narrow definition of art as a display of artefact. Current social stratification, inequalities, and conflicts are tied to ecological crisis, and creative practice, critical exploration of untested ideas and rigorous academic research can play a significant role in improving the current situations.

Bringing postgraduate students, internal and external researchers together, the group responds to the complex entanglement of forces making up a crisis. Acknowledging the importance of intricately weaving together both theoretical discourses and generative practices, the group provides a platform for discussing, imagining, devising, and developing new strategies, narratives, and practices in response to the situations in which the concerns relating to ecology can open passages towards more accountable and responsible positions.

Areas of expertise/interest

Group aim

In response to the ecological crisis, the group aims to develop discourses, strategies to find solutions, suggestions and practices that may allow for social change.

Through discussions and channelling ideas and researchers’ practices into collective bodies of works such as exhibitions and publications, the group aims at accounting the lived experiences of climate change and investigating and responding to the emotional and psychological impacts of ecological crisis.

Postgraduate research opportunities

The Art, Environment and Social Change Research Group offers supervision for MPhil/PhD degrees. This includes practice-led research in a wider definition of art including fine art, photography, video, curation, fashion among others. We welcome prospective post graduate research students who are interested in pursuing research in the areas of art, environment and social change. If you are interested, do please contact our research degree office. For an informal discussion of your proposal please contact Dr Atsuhide Ito or Dr Jessica Holtaway.