11.2 Contemporary indigenous artists addressing environmental issues

Contemporary indigenous artists are using their art to address pressing environmental issues. They blend traditional knowledge with modern techniques to create powerful works that challenge dominant narratives and foster dialogue about our relationship with nature.

These artists incorporate traditional materials and cultural stories into their art, often collaborating with communities. Their work has a significant impact, reaching diverse audiences and inspiring action on environmental conservation and indigenous rights.

Contemporary Indigenous Artists and the Environment

Contemporary indigenous environmental artists

Top images from around the web for Contemporary indigenous environmental artists

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  Every One, 2018, Cannupa Hanska Luger | Peter Burka | Flickr View original

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  Native Expressions: A Visual Exploration of Indigenous Art — Native Expressions: A Visual ... View original

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  Cannupa Hanska Luger: l’artista che sogna un futuro ancestrale per la Terra - Arte.Go: Mostre ... View original

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  Every One, 2018, Cannupa Hanska Luger | Peter Burka | Flickr View original

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Top images from around the web for Contemporary indigenous environmental artists

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  Every One, 2018, Cannupa Hanska Luger | Peter Burka | Flickr View original

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  Native Expressions: A Visual Exploration of Indigenous Art — Native Expressions: A Visual ... View original

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  Cannupa Hanska Luger: l’artista che sogna un futuro ancestrale per la Terra - Arte.Go: Mostre ... View original

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  Every One, 2018, Cannupa Hanska Luger | Peter Burka | Flickr View original

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  Native Expressions: A Visual Exploration of Indigenous Art — Native Expressions: A Visual ... View original

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• Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (Salish-Kootenai) addresses issues of land, water, and indigenous rights in her mixed-media paintings and installations, often incorporating collage and text to layer multiple narratives and perspectives
• Bonnie Devine (Anishinaabe) explores the impact of resource extraction (mining, logging) and environmental degradation on indigenous communities through her sculpture and installation works, using a minimalist aesthetic to highlight the stark realities
• Cannupa Hanska Luger (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Lakota) creates collaborative, community-engaged projects that highlight the relationship between indigenous peoples and the land, often engaging in performative actions and utilizing social media to amplify reach
• Julie Nagam (Anishinaabe/Métis) uses digital media and installation to investigate the interconnectedness of land, water, and indigenous knowledge systems, creating interactive, multi-sensory experiences that immerse viewers

Traditional knowledge in modern art

• Incorporating traditional materials and techniques such as natural pigments (ochre, charcoal), fibers (cedar bark, sweetgrass), and found objects (bones, shells) to create works that emphasize the deep connection between indigenous peoples and the environment
• Referencing cultural stories and symbols, drawing on traditional narratives (creation myths, trickster tales) and iconography (animal totems, sacred geometry) to convey messages about environmental stewardship and resilience
• Engaging with community knowledge and participation, collaborating with indigenous communities to gather stories, perspectives, and collective wisdom about the land and its conservation, ensuring authentic representation and empowerment

Impact of indigenous environmental art

• Challenging dominant narratives and Western perspectives, presenting alternative worldviews that prioritize the interdependence of humans and nature, questioning the notion of land as a mere resource to be exploited for profit
• Fostering dialogue and emotional connection through visually compelling and thought-provoking works that encourage viewers to reflect on their own relationship to the environment and their role in its protection and preservation
• Reaching diverse audiences through exhibitions and public engagement, showcasing work in galleries, museums, and community spaces to raise awareness among both indigenous and non-indigenous audiences, sparking conversations and inspiring action

Approaches to artistic environmental activism

• Jaune Quick-to-See Smith uses a bold, graphic style to critique the exploitation of indigenous lands (oil pipelines, deforestation) and advocate for environmental justice, often incorporating collage and text to layer multiple narratives and perspectives
• Bonnie Devine creates immersive installations that confront viewers with the devastating impacts of resource extraction on indigenous communities (water pollution, habitat loss), employing a minimalist aesthetic to highlight the stark realities of environmental degradation
• Cannupa Hanska Luger engages in collaborative, performative projects that invite participation and collective action (sculptural interventions, wearable art), utilizing social media and digital platforms to amplify the reach and impact of his work
• Julie Nagam employs digital technologies (projection mapping, sound design) to create interactive, multi-sensory experiences that immerse viewers in indigenous knowledge systems, emphasizing the spiritual and cultural dimensions of environmental conservation