- Title: Forest sprouts at London Design Biennale tackling global crises
- Date: 1st June 2021
- Summary: VARIOUS OF BEN CULLEN WILLIAM'S ANTARCTICA PAVILION, SHOWING LARSEN B ICE SHELF
- 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: LVA002EFKLF89
- 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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