Can the Seas Survive Us?
Published on 21. February 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
160 pages
978-1-83636-004-9 (ISBN)
Description
Addressing one of the urgent issues of climate crisis and environmental pollution, this book explores our relationship to the sea: how we live alongside it, our bodily relationship to it, its role in the creation of a connected, global society and, perhaps most critically, the threat we pose to it.
Through a broad selection of works by contemporary international artists, Can the Seas Survive Us? responds to the urgent need to resuscitate our seas. While the oceanic environment is essential to all life, its vulnerability to human action is highlighted by an ever-increasing loss of biodiversity. This book prompts the reader to imagine a future in which collective human behaviour can mitigate the effects of climate change. As ocean temperatures reach record highs, it is clear that time is not on our side. This ambitious project aspires to accelerate climate awareness and deliver the critical climate action we urgently need.
Through a broad selection of works by contemporary international artists, Can the Seas Survive Us? responds to the urgent need to resuscitate our seas. While the oceanic environment is essential to all life, its vulnerability to human action is highlighted by an ever-increasing loss of biodiversity. This book prompts the reader to imagine a future in which collective human behaviour can mitigate the effects of climate change. As ocean temperatures reach record highs, it is clear that time is not on our side. This ambitious project aspires to accelerate climate awareness and deliver the critical climate action we urgently need.
Reviews / Votes
The Guardian has reviewed the exhibition for Can the Seas Survive Us? - The Guardian "This exhibition catalogue contains thoughtful essays and poetry that add an extra layer to the excellent exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre in Norwich. The approach makes it stand out from traditional exhibition books, and I love the concept of the museum having a theme for each season that asks a significant question that's on all our minds." - FADMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Illustrations
60 Illustrations, color
Dimensions
Height: 182 mm
Width: 247 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
612 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83636-004-9 (9781836360049)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
John Kenneth Paranada serves as the Curator of Art and Climate Change at the Sainsbury Centre, funded by the John Ellerman Foundation, and is a researcher at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, UEA. His interdisciplinary expertise spans museum studies, curatorial studies, art history, community engagement, climate communication and energy management. In 2023, he curated 'Sediment Spirit' and co-edited the publication Planet For Our Future. Specialising in international contemporary art, sustainability and planetary ecology, Ken focuses on curating art and culture to accelerate climate awareness and action. He is affiliated with international organisations such as the International Council of Museums, the Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art and the Association of Art Museum Curators, amongst others. Tania Moore is head of exhibitions at the Sainsbury Centre. Tania was exhibition curator for the 'What is Truth?' season at the Sainsbury Centre. Publications include What Is Truth? (Sainsbury Centre, 2024), and Rhythm and Geometry: Constructivist Art in Britain Since 1951 (Sainsbury Centre, 2021). She has contributed chapters on post-war and contemporary sculpture to publications including Magdalene Odundo: The Journey of Things (InOther Words, 2019), Elisabeth Frink: Humans and Other Animals (Sainsbury Centre, 2018) and Becoming Henry Moore (Henry Moore Foundation, 2017). In 2019, she received the New Collecting Award from the Art Fund to acquire sculptors' drawings by contemporary women and non-binary artists for the Sainsbury Centre collection.
Content
FOREWORD
Jago Cooper 6
INTRODUCTION
John Kenneth Paranada 9
FLUID LINES: CHARTING CHANGE
AND CHANGING CHARTS
Djoeke van Netten 25
SOUNDING THE UNKNOWN:
WATERS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
Soren Brothers 33
REDRAWING THE LINE
Andrew Watkinson 43
'THE LEAVING OF KATTEGAT SEA
(OR THE MERMEN'S LAMENT)'
Harun Morrison 53
'THE IMAGE OF ETERNITY':
DEEP TIME, POWER
AND VULNERABILITY
IN REPRESENTATIONS OF
SEAS AND OCEANS
Courtney Traub 56
TIPPING POINTS: PAUSING THE
UNSTOPPABLE IN THE WORK OF
MAGGI HAMBLING, CLAIRE CANSICK
AND MARGARET MELLIS
Antonia Blocker 68
'SELKIE SONG'
Harun Morrison 77
A SEA OF RESILIENCE:
OCEANIC (IN)VISIBILITY
Karen Jacobs 80
THE EVOLUTION OF
PARADISE CAMP
Yuki Kihara in conversation with
Tania Moore 95
ESTUARINE
Patrick Flores 105
SEA INSIDE: ART AND
MARINE INTERIORITY
Pandora Syperek and Sarah Wade 116
'THE GHOST WHALES'
Harun Morrison 132
Acknowledgements 137
Author Biographies 141
Picture Credits 147
Notes 148
Index 157
Jago Cooper 6
INTRODUCTION
John Kenneth Paranada 9
FLUID LINES: CHARTING CHANGE
AND CHANGING CHARTS
Djoeke van Netten 25
SOUNDING THE UNKNOWN:
WATERS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
Soren Brothers 33
REDRAWING THE LINE
Andrew Watkinson 43
'THE LEAVING OF KATTEGAT SEA
(OR THE MERMEN'S LAMENT)'
Harun Morrison 53
'THE IMAGE OF ETERNITY':
DEEP TIME, POWER
AND VULNERABILITY
IN REPRESENTATIONS OF
SEAS AND OCEANS
Courtney Traub 56
TIPPING POINTS: PAUSING THE
UNSTOPPABLE IN THE WORK OF
MAGGI HAMBLING, CLAIRE CANSICK
AND MARGARET MELLIS
Antonia Blocker 68
'SELKIE SONG'
Harun Morrison 77
A SEA OF RESILIENCE:
OCEANIC (IN)VISIBILITY
Karen Jacobs 80
THE EVOLUTION OF
PARADISE CAMP
Yuki Kihara in conversation with
Tania Moore 95
ESTUARINE
Patrick Flores 105
SEA INSIDE: ART AND
MARINE INTERIORITY
Pandora Syperek and Sarah Wade 116
'THE GHOST WHALES'
Harun Morrison 132
Acknowledgements 137
Author Biographies 141
Picture Credits 147
Notes 148
Index 157