Now more than ever, our community needs a clear vision for the future we want to build and plan for how to get there. All across the world people are coming together to campaign for Green New Deals; plans and solutions that are as big and bold as the climate, inequality and economic crises that we face.
The Australian Greens are building a Green New Deal with communities across the country. Here in WA, eight Western Australian artists and collaborators were invited to share their visions for a better future. The results featured on this page form a dynamic series of works that explore core principles of the Green New Deal - from ensuring justice and treaty for first nations peoples; creating a zero carbon economy and taking urgent action on climate change; creating a society that takes care of everyone; transforming our relationship to food; and building connected, green urban spaces that bring communities together and regenerate nature.
As a collection they remind us of the power of art to help us imagine what our future(s) could be, experiment with new ways of doing and being in the world and prototype the transformations we need.
We thank these artists for their generous imaginings, creations, investigations and communications.
Joanna Brown
An ecotopian digital drawing; a celebration of a bio-rich and diverse environment that also illustrates the sun and wind’s energy in powering a community. This artwork invites the consideration of small details while also attempting to evoke the rapture and power of the forces involved.
Pascale Giorgi
Combining research, cookery and art this project interrogates the history of food as a signifier of wealth and class and tries to develop new thoughtful relationships with food. This lavish banquet, riffing on those of 18th century royal courts, focused on sustainable, native, local and foraged foods.
Anne Gee
This work represents the delicate balance of all things living and growing on this beautiful planet of ours. The complete and connectedness of this paper cut artwork celebrates the essence and ideals of The Green New Deal campaign and is made from one single piece of paper.
Steven Alyian
You and I can begin to live in a Limitless Tomorrow. Selfless Orchestra weave their song across the vast environments of Western Australia as a poem is read by members of our community who have protected, restored and fought for the ideals of a clean, sustainable future for us all.
Nathanael Whale
'A Green New Future', instead of re-imagining the green horizons of the affluent, tackles the everyday: the local drinking hole, a suburban street, and an outback library.
These artworks are projections of a possible future where community and nature are combined to benefit the many rather than a few.
Viviane Brockman, Mitchella Hutchins & Elaine Clocherty
Wardandi Elder and Artist Viviane Brockman, daughter Wardandi Artist and custodian Mitchella Hutchins, Land Artist Elaine Clocherty, family and friends created ceremonial ground at the Margaret River Mouth. Ceremony was held at sunset where they danced in the Bora and set the fire alight with the local community.
Natalie Scholtz, Kate Leslie & Mandy White
In this work three artists collaborate symbolic conversations of ideals and fears of the future. From relationships between people, to spirits carrying warnings, to the lush overhang of possibility. The background starry sky embraces the figures, trees, spirits and story reminding us of our connection to larger spaces.