Venues, artists and artworks:
ORIENTAL MUSEUM Elvet Hill, Durham DH1 3TH www.dur.ac.uk/oriental.museum
opening times: Mon – Fri 10am-5pm, Sat – Sun 12pm-5pm.
‘Climate Refugees’ by international photographer Shahidul Alam
Shahidul, also founder of Drik and director of Chobi Mela international festival, documents some of the most vulnerable to climate change in Bangladesh, who often require relocation to areas of relative safety where they have even fewer rights than on their own land.
‘Resilience’ by Apu & Murad Chowdhury and co-produced by digital artist Maya Chowdhry
An artwork which responds to and integrates with the Climate Refugees photographs, driven by Apu’s background in theatre and interest in the strength of Bangladeshi people along with photographer and emerging artist Murad.
– – –
DURHAM ART GALLERY Aykley Heads, Durham DH1 5TU www.dlidurham.org.uk
opening times: Weds – Sun 10.30am-4.00pm
‘Chamada From Chico Mendes’ interactive installation art by Kooj Chuhan
Digital art meets Afro-Brazilian carnival inspired by global climate activism including environmentalist and trade unionist Chico Mendes. Visitors can play objects like instruments and spark off visuals, documentary, poetry and music from guest artists, film-makers and activists. Selected media from guest contributors will be watchable on extra screens in the exhibition.
– – –
MINERS HALL Redhills Lane, Durham DH1 4BD www.durhamminers.org
opening times: Weds 10am-5pm, Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri 10am-5pm
‘Refining Memory’ a Platform film created by Judy Price and Andrew Conio
In 2005, for the 10th anniversary of the executions of Nigerian writer and campaigner Ken Saro-Wiwa and his 8 colleagues, Platform commissioned a half-hour film on the devastating impacts of big oil in Nigeria, specially Shell. To commemorate 20 years after the murder of Ken Saro-Wiwa, a film that honours his struggle to get justice for Ogoniland and Niger Delta communities impacted by Shell’s legacies of oil pollution, cut with interviews of artist Sokari Douglas Camp and Ogoni campaigner Celestine AkpoBari.
A series of shorter films by Platform and others are now also in the loop, updating the campaign for justice that still continues.
‘The Level’ by Mazaher, co-produced by Maya Chowdhry, created in partnership with the UK Climate Change and Migration Coalition (UKCCMC)
Compelling digital video installation integrating narratives from Moving Stories by UKCCMC (UK Climate Change and Migration Coalition), in which the water level gradually submerges the voices from the report.
‘African Fragments’ by Tracey Zengeni, co-produced by Maya Chowdhry, created in partnership with Nigel Hulett/Granadilla Films (Zimbabwe)
Combining painting with projected video and stop-motion spread across TV screens, this work reflects on human struggles against the depletion of water and livelihoods in Zimbabwe.
