What artistic responses can we invent in the face of climate collapse to inspire alternative visions to the dominant apocalyptic climate discourse?
How can we collectively tune into the sonorities of socio-political change and ecology? Acoustics of Resistance is a multi-media project comprising of works that collectively tune into the sonorities of socio-political change and ecology. It rejoices in the transformative and healing powers of listening and sound-making while declaring that changing the course of climate change is in our hands and lies on humans learning the language of nature.
Surging Seas and The Weather Orchestra are two installations that approach the theme of climate change from the perspectives of scientific data, collective and individual emotional response, speculative thinking and sounding. They are an ode to the elements, expressing our deep relationship and entanglement with the weather and celebrating our connection to the atmosphere and the earth. Surging Seas comprises video, a textile work references thermal maps and a display of placards with futurological flood maps.
The Weather Orchestra was created with diverse performers from different climes and takes the form of multi-channel video installation with surround sound. The installation transforms the gallery space into an indoor weather system generated through sound vibration and singing. Three projections feature Iberian female musicians performing on instruments and analogue noise machines designed to imitate the sounds of natural phenomena.
From the old wind machine to the ancient Latin American ceremonial rain stick, ocean drums, aqua-phones and thunder sheets generate sounds that allude to the forces and magnificence of nature. In the middle of this soundscape and swept up by the noise, human voices burst with folk songs from different cultures as a reservoir of knowledge and connection with nature, expressing joy, respect, fear and wonder toward all elements surrounding us. In his mourning song, a Syrian refugee asks the rain to become ‘mute’ in his dedication to friends and family he lost at sea on their way to Greece. A Danish folk singer recalls an ancient nordic song asking the sun to come and warm the seeds to sprout. A Madeiran islander begs the fog to clear because it threatens his life. A Portuguese singer sings an ancient pagan-christian prayer to Santa Barbara requesting her to calm the tempest at sea.
Mikhail Karikis is a Greek-British artist working with moving image, sound, performance and other media. Through collaborations with individuals and/or communities located beyond the circles of contemporary art, and in recent years with children, refugees, support workers and people with disabilities, he develops socially embedded projects that prompt an activist imaginary and rouse the potential to invent hopeful and sustainable futures. Focusing on listening as an artistic methodology, and the voice as a socio-political agent he centers on themes of environmental and social justice. His projects highlight alternative modes of action and solidarity, while nurturing critical attention, dignity and care.
Karikis exhibits internationally. In his most recent work for the stage, ‘Universe of Solutions’, he was artistic director for UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network inaugural cultural event for which he created a performance with 150 young people. Group exhibitions include 54th Venice Biennale, (2011), IT; Manifesta 9, Ghenk, (2012); 19th Biennale of Sydney, (2014); Kochi-Muziris Biennale, IN, (2016); MediaCity Seoul, KR (2015); British Art Show 8 (2016-7); 2nd Riga International Biennale of Contemporary Art, LV (2020), 2nd Saitama Triennale (2024), JP and others.