Mutable Ecologies

Background Mutable Ecologies is a transnational project considering how innovations in art are interrogating the effects of changing conditions to offer new insights and awareness of ecological futures. The project foregrounds embodied and material perceptions of transformation—including the complicit involvement of creative practices through activities, technologies and presentations. It draws on T.J. Demos’ understanding of art’s role as a part of the world, human perception and a re-imagining of interrelations. Contribution Mutable Ecologies was co-curated by Kristen Sharp, Philip Samartzis and Andrew Teztlaff. Leading creative practitioners from Australia and Japan presented their work and research through online exhibition, performances and public discussions. Artists include Don’t Follow the Wind (with ChimPom), Yuko Mohri, Hikaru Fujii, Yoichi Kamimura, Yhonnie Scarce, Clinton Naina and Polly Stanton. Mohri, Fujii, ChimPom and Scarce are major international artists. A significant public program developed in collaboration with Asialink Arts focused on Unnatural Disaster, Woodland Habitats and Inhabiting Extremes comprising leading speakers from Australia and Japan with backgrounds in art, science, politics and communication including artist Takashi Kuribayashi, Bob Brown, Yuki Matsuoka (Head United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Japan), Tony Birch and Ruth Langford. Significance Mutable Ecologies was funded by the Australia – Japan Foundation DFAT. It received financial and inkind support from Asialink Arts at the University of Melbourne. Other partners include Musashino Art University and the InterCommunication Centre in Tokyo. Up until November 19 the website had received over 1800 individual visitors; the public program has attracted over 300 attendees including dignitaries from AJF, DFAT, and the Australian and Japanese Consulate-Generals.