- Title: Forest sprouts at London Design Biennale tackling global crises
- Date: 1st June 2021
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) DESIGNER, BEN CULLEN WILLIAMS, SAYING: "The Larsen B ice shelf broke off Antarctica in 2002 and slowly it has been kind of disintegrating since, so we built these algorithms to recreate new video footage that was kind of rebuilding the icebergs through the use of artificial intelligence. So kind of it really kind of questions how we will see the past in the future? How we'll see the natural world that's lost? Will it be through these kind of technological means? or are we kind of moment in time where we have the ability to stop the melt so the future generations will be able to see the icebergs for themselves?" VARIOUS OF INI ARCHIBONG PAVILION OF AFRICAN DIASPORA (SOUNDBITE) (English) DESIGNER, INI ARCHIBONG, SAYING: "The London designed Biennale is generally a place where different countries come to represent themselves and their concerns for the year or the two years in between the Biennales. And, you know, for my part, I wanted to make something representative of the people of the African diaspora, not having a codified, I guess country or established representation we don't always have a place on the world stage in events like these. And I thought it was important to celebrate the people of the African diaspora here in London by bringing a temporary monument and a gathering place to discuss things relevant to us." VARIOUS OF SERVAIRE & CO & ALTER-PROJECTS METRONOME VARIOUS OF FOREST OF CHANGE AT SOMERSET HOUSE
- Embargoed: 15th June 2021 13:45
- Keywords: 400 trees Exhibits London Design Biennale Somerset House climate change equality migration pandemic sustainability
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe
- Reuters ID: LVA003EFKLF89
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The London Design Biennale opened on Monday (May 31) at Somerset House with hundreds of trees in the venue's courtyard forming a "Forest for Change" as the event explored climate, poor health, inequality, and other challenges and crises of our time.
The exhibition, the first large-scale international cultural gathering in the city since pandemic restrictions eased, will run for three weeks with pavilions showcasing ground-breaking designs from countries and communities around the world, including the African Diaspora and Antarctica.
The "Forest for Change" was designed by Es Devlin, artistic director of the Biennale, and is an interactive installation to raise awareness of the United Nations' Global Goals.
The idea was to "counter this attitude of human dominance over nature, by allowing a forest to overtake the entire courtyard," Devlin is quoted as saying on the event's website.
The Antarctica pavilion highlights the breaking off of the Larsen B ice shelf and the use of algorithms to rebuild the icebergs through artificial intelligence while Guatemala reflects on water usage with a sound installation.
On the river terrace outside, American designer Ini Archibong's Pavilion of the African Diaspora takes the form of an arched shelter inspired by the shape of a cowrie shell, for centuries a currency in Africa. The structure will serve as an innovative multi-use educational and event facility, and as a sanctuary to tell stories and create a diverse reality.
(Production: Ben Makori) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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