Progress beyond the state of the art
Methodologically, a fundamental advance was the consideration of artworks as units of analysis in EDC. The project has tested a network approach in the analysis of intertwined art purposes, art types, users, and approaches to socio-environmental transformation.
Conceptually, CLAMOR helped to elaborated or created concepts in connection with such transformations. They include, for instance, the concepts of cognitive dissonance of hybrid art-science initiatives; gendered creative activism, the relationality of art for socio-environmental transformation, the materiality of (socio-environmental) art, artistic representations of local values and life histories, and relational art-making in environmentally degraded areas.
Theoretically, CLAMOR unveiled the multiple ways in which artivims triggers socio-environmental transformation. Regarding knowledge, artivism is a window to situated knowledge, contributes to knowledge dissemination and visibility, and it leads to knowledge integration. Regarding political and social behaviours, artivists are essential in envisioning change, disclosing power relations and voicing the unheard. Also, artivism is superior to other forms of activism in (re)connecting agencies, and it has proved to be effective in supporting people’s reacting and claims of environmental transformation. Regarding material change, CLAMOR has contributed to highlight the materiality of environmental art, and to show its role promoting bot direct vs indirect material changes.
During the outgoing phase of the fellow identified six avenues of gendered environmental ‘artivism’. A gendered lens on artistic activism made visible the power of different groups to act, their scopes of creative action, and their thematic foci. The presence of of younger demographics is significant, including children and students in environmental artivism. Further, the case studies provided empirical evidence to understand the value of creative expressions in environmental conflicts. Main foci of the analysis were the relevance of creative activism for education, social cohesion, participation, knowledge sharing and knowledge bridging, making issues of neglection and corruption visible, collective memory, and expanding networks of affection.
By the end of the fellowship, a data-intensive analysis unveiled three major topics in the study of environmental artivism. 1) The education of audiences through performative expressions of today’s global environmental crises, especially climate change. 2) Ecocritical reflections of environmental controversies and conflicts towards creative emancipatory practices. 3) Art practice as an avenue for environmental improvement across different sectors (e.g. water, mining, urban).
Career prospects of the researcher.
The MSC fellowship placed the researcher at the frontier of European excellence in her research field. The outcomes listed above further strengthen her track record as an excellent researcher. The quality of her scientific contributions is evidenced through publications as a first authors in top scientific journals, organisation of scientific conference panels, and invited lectures. Her international mobility now includes the unique experience of working at the University of California, Berkeley, a global leading research institution in the field of natural resource management. The researcher believes that having held a MSC fellowship has been fundamental in her current incorporation into the Catalan system of science and technology. The fellowship was also key in the preparation of a solid proposal for a major research grant supporting high-risk frontier research.
