MODERN TIMES: Earth: Art of a changing world

"Are we at the beginning of an unprecedented era of an international co-operation, or are we living in and Edwardian summer of reckless denial? Is this the beginning or the beginning of the end?" This is part of the speech The Hot Breath of Our Civilisation by Ian McEwan, one of the artists called to participate in the exhibition Earth, Art of a changing world at Royal Academy of Arts. I attended on Monday to a private view organized by The Guardian and time could not be better chosen. Meanwhile politicians, activist, technocrats are trying to fix the mess in Copenhagen, some artists are making a cultural response to the climate change.

It was very inspiring and powerful: painting, pictures, sculptures, videos, installations...etc. Some pieces were a direct and painful slap in your face. Among them one of my latest favourite photographer, Edward Burtynsky. His pictures on quarries are extraordinary, so much detail within so vast space. The Ice Core by Shiro Takany was a perfect mix of art and science as it was the video Black Rain by Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerhardt. The first piece show part of a 2,503 metre ice-core, drilled At Dome Guji in Antarctica, meanwhile the second was made form a raw visual data recorded by NASA's on solar winds. Chilly and magical soundtrack. Not as scary as the golden ball by Kris Martin, which is going to explode 100 years after it was made, actually in 2004. I think I am not going to see that, but you have been warned.

Rear of Royal Academy of Arts
6 Burlington Gardens, London W1S 3ET
Until 31st January 2010