Nature’s Toolbox: Biodiversity, Art and Invention

Article Frontispiece. [From top left, reading across and down](a) Vincent Callebaut, Aerial Perspectives on the South of China from the series Hydrogenase, Algae Farm to Recycle CO2 for Bio-hydrogen Airship, Shanghai, archival ink jet print of architectural rendering 23.5 × 19 in, 2010. (© Vincent Callebaut. Courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures, Paris.) (b) Catherine Chalmers, Safari, HD video with audio, 7:17 min, 2008. Editor: Liron Unreich. Sound Editor: Dan Snazelle. Entomology: God of Insects. (© Catherine Chalmers) (c) Aganetha and Richard Dyck, Collaborating in the Darkness, Hive Scan 4 from the Hive Scan Series, digital photograph, edition of 5, 31 × 25 in, 2001–2003. (© Aganetha and Richard Dyck) (d) Don & Era Farnsworth, Diatom Landscape, sealed print tryptich, center panel (shown here) 44.5 × 92.5 in, 2012. (© Don & Era Farnsworth. Courtesy of Magnolia Editions, Oakland, CA) (e) Chris Jordan, Midway: Message from the Gyre [238], ultrachrome inkjet print, 26.5 × 31.5 in, 2009. (© Chris Jordan) (f) Katja Loher, Bee-Doublebubble (Why Did the Bees Leave?), video sculpture; 9:00 min, 14 × 14 × 10 in, 2012. (© Katja Loher) (g) Lori Nix, Natural History from The City series, chromogenic archival print, 21 × 62 in, 2005. (© Lori Nix. Courtesy of ClampArt, New York.) (h) Lucy and Jorge Orta, Collection: Aepyornis, Gallimimus, Allosaurus, Pelaeomastodon, Royal Limoges porcelain sculptures, enamel drawings, steel, lacquered glass, wood table frame, 39 × 43 × 39 in, 2010. (© Lucy and Jorge Orta) (i) Neri Oxman, Raycounting, 3D print, 20 × 12 × 6 in, 2008. (© Neri Oxman) (j) Donna Keiko Ozawa, The Waribashi Project, installation, approx. 82 × 192 × 192 in, 2012. (© Donna Keiko Ozawa) (k) Isabella Rossellini, Spider, from the Green Porno series, video, 2009. (© Isabella Rossellini. Courtesy of the Sundance Channel.) (l) Yuriko Yamaguchi, Energy, hand cast resin and wire, 96 × 120 × 6 in, 2011. (© Yuriko Yamaguchi. Courtesy of Howard Scott Gallery, New York.)

Awareness is the first critical step in changing our individual and collective outlook—from one that exploits nature to one that nurtures it, and from a mindset that separates us from the natural world to one that understands us to be part of it. Art can help build awareness. Indeed, nature and science are inextricably linked to art in the environmental realm. While science measures the health of the planet, art helps us visualize our complex relationship to the natural world. Art has a unique set of tools to represent our world: irony, allegory, metaphor and humor. Science provides facts while art tells stories. The need for environmental stories has never been greater. Earth is steadily crossing increasingly alarming thresholds of climate change and other environmental challenges.

Biologists view human impact as the primary contributor to an emerging mass extinction. Some scientists believe the present rate of extinction could eliminate most species on Earth within the lifespan of our great-grandchildren. People are hungry for positive images of the future. Effectively told, stories can have a powerful impact in determining how our future unfolds. The stories at the heart of the Nature’s Toolbox exhibition offer fresh perspectives and solutions, demonstrating that humanity is itself an essential piece of this system and the salvation not just of nature, but of ourselves.

The exhibition is organized into four themes. Each artist falls into one of the thematic headings:

• • What Is Biodiversity?

• • Why Is Biodiversity Important?

• • How Do Humans Affect Biodiversity?

• • What Can We Learn from Nature about How to Flourish?

Nature’s Toolbox exhibition opened at The Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois (22 May–2 December 2012). From there, it will travel to The Leonardo, Salt Lake City, Utah (January 22–August 5, 2013); the Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita, Kansas (August 31–December 17, 2013); and the Singapore Museum of Art in 2014. We anticipate traveling the exhibition to venues globally through 2015.

The exhibition is produced by the nonprofit organization Art Works for Change. Our mission is to harness the transformative power of art to promote awareness, provoke dialogue and inspire action. We create traveling contemporary art exhibitions and projects that address critical social and environmental issues. We partner with local organizations...