“Spiraling”, Mixed Media Collage, Vega Piper.

Introduction

In the face of our planet's urgent need for clean energy to combat climate change, it's crucial to recognize that every solution comes with its own set of costs. Clean energy, often championed as a solution to the depletion of fossil fuels, proves to be not as clean as it appears. In this essay, I delve into the artistic responses to a newer mass energy source, Lithium, and its repercussions on global resources and climate justice. Furthermore, I examine how marketing tactics weave a narrative that does not reveal the entire truth.

Within our class group, we decided to approach this project as a collective. We envisioned a website as a platform for artists to express their perspectives on the Anthropocene. Recognizing the overwhelming nature of climate change discussions, our goal was to create a space where artists could share their work, addressing components of this issue in a digestible manner. Topics covered on the website included publicity, urban spaces, societal impacts of climate change, and consumerism.

Project Inspiration

My project specifically focused on the intersection of clean energy and consumerism. I chose to create a collage using images and phrases from Time and National Geographic magazines, overlaying them onto my drawing and words. The collage featured a small girl staring off into the distance, as a reminder of who will suffer the most in the years to come. On the other side of the paper, soldiers are struggling to hold an American flag in front of an electric car, a symbolic reminder of the American energy crises as well as the electric car that contains a lithium battery.  Abstract shapes conveyed the emotional complexity of finding solutions that often lead to new problems. This work of art was inspired by the essay Our House Is On Fire by Finnis Dunnaway, more specifically how mainstream media can impress upon consumers the idea that the climate crises could be their fault, rather than holistically examining how we have gotten to this point of carbon emissions in a world dominated by corporations and consumerism.

One prominent element in the pursuit of clean energy is lithium, a key component in electric car batteries obtained from underground deposits or salt flats. As the electric vehicle industry expands, the repercussions of mass lithium mining become more evident. In Argentina, for instance, the mining of lithium leads to drought and resource depletion for indigenous communities. Inspired by Edward Burtynsky's Water Series which explores humanity's intricate and vital relationship with water, I considered the parallels with the accessibility of clean water—something often taken for granted but easily stripped from others.

Reading And Art Inspiration

Examining sustainability, as discussed by Robin Attfield in Environmental Ethics: A Very Short Introduction, it becomes apparent that sustainability doesn't inherently equate to ethical or positive practices. Lithium mining, while touted as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, still inflicts environmental damage and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as creating an unlivable habitat for those in mining areas.  Jeremy Rifkin in The Age of Resilience creates an urgency to rethink our existence on Earth amid the impending sixth mass extinction, emphasizing the need for cohabitation while being mindful of resource depletion. Marketing things as a solution when they are a bandaid is not a way of being mindful of our resources and can become more detrimental than it would be helpful. We can easily forget the harsh reality that while an individual needs to be conscious of their consumption we need to see changes made on a governmental level.

Governments, as discussed by Mark Maslin in Climate Change: A Very Short Introduction, play a pivotal role in making decisions that can drive radical changes, as seen in agreements like the Paris Climate Agreement. However, global temperatures continue to increase, underscoring the limitations of such agreements and highlighting the importance of more drastic actions. More locally, initiatives like the Washington tax incentive for electric vehicle purchases inadvertently contribute to increased lithium mining, illustrating the interconnected nature of environmental issues.

When considering the repetitive pattern of nonrenewable energy consumption, Judy Natal's Future Perfect offers a visual representation of a sustainable future achievable through human intervention. Her photographs of a world that offers sustainability with human intervention are powerful and make one think about the actions required to make this world a reality. Her pictures of almost alien-looking landscapes intrigue the viewer. These images serve as a reminder that choices must be made to avoid ecological deterioration. Meanwhile, the book 140 Artists Ideas For Planet Earth, edited by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Kostas Stasinopoulos, provides a comforting contrast to climate grief by presenting diverse artistic expressions that allow observers to interpret and find solace in various ways such as poems, drawings, quotes, and even recipes.

As we navigate the next generation of innovation and energy, redefining consumption patterns and learning from past mistakes is as important as ever. The balance between technological advancement and responsible consumption is achievable. Joseph Mallord William Turner's Rain, Steam, and Speed provides an image of innovation hurtling forward and serves as a poignant reminder that progress, while beautiful, demands careful consideration of potential consequences and an honest narrative about its impact.

Conclusion

In the quest for sustainable energy, it is important to acknowledge the complex relationship between innovation, consumerism, and environmental consequences. We have a  responsibility to scrutinize the narrative crafted around clean energy, recognize the hidden costs, and advocate for holistic solutions. The artwork presented in our collaborative project presents a new lens to the multifaceted challenges of the Anthropocene.  With the allure of eco-consumerism, we must discern the fine line between genuine progress and greenwashing. By learning from both our successes and pitfalls as a society, embracing governmental initiatives, and creating permanent solutions rather than a band-aid, we can aspire to a future where innovation is synonymous with responsible eco-consumerism, ensuring a world for generations to come.

Art Inspirations:

Rain, Steam and Speed, Oil on Canvas, 1844, Joseph Mallord William Turner

Future Perfect, Digital Photography Series, Judy Natal

Water, Digital Photography, A series by Edward Burtynsky.

Sources:

Attfield, Robin. “Sustainability And Preservation .” Environmental Ethics: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom, 2018.

Fred Pearce      •            September 19, et al. “Why the Rush to Mine Lithium Could Dry up the High Andes.” Yale E360, e360.yale.edu/features/lithium-mining-water-andes-argentina. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

Maslin, Mark. “Politics Of Climate Change.” Climate Change a Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2021.

Obrist, Hans Ulrich, and Kostas Stasinopoulos. 140 Artists’ Ideas for Planet Earth. Penguin Books, 2021.

Rifkin, Jeremy. The Age of Resilience: Reimagining Existence on a Rewilding Earth. St. Martin’s Press, an Imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group, 2022.