Harnessing creativity with artivism - Oceanographic

Artivism becomes a transformative force, especially when nurturing the environmental consciousness of the next generation. As the alarming realities of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss loom, empowering youth to be advocates for ocean resilience is paramount.

Bow Seat’s annual Ocean Awareness Contest stands as a testament to the transformative potential of artivism within the ocean conservation sphere. By inviting youth to creatively explore ocean-related issues, the Contest has become a global platform for over 30,000 students to address critical challenges such as plastic pollution, sea level rise, overfishing, species restoration, and the protection of right whales. The Contest program empowers youth to become advocates for change, demonstrating that creativity can be a driving force in shaping a generation of environmentally conscious leaders.

In the hands of these young artists, artivism becomes a beacon of hope for ocean conservation – a call to action that transcends boundaries and inspires a collective commitment to protecting our blue planet. As highlighted by one student participant: “Before participating, I didn’t really care about climate change, global warming, or ocean pollution. But after doing research, I now feel that these are big problems, and I regret not paying heed to them. It has inspired me to do something for the betterment of our planet.”

Traditional science communication often falls short in connecting with a broader audience, hindered by dryness and a lack of accessibility. Artistic expression serves as a universal language that transcends barriers of education, language, and socio-economics. It tells stories, reframes narratives, and sparks imaginations.

Whether through street art, film, or photography, art goes beyond the confines of traditional communication methods, reaching individuals on a deeper, more visceral level than facts and logic alone. Artistic expression is as versatile as it is engaging, allowing it to be a powerful catalyst for social and environmental change.

The synergy between science and art is not about opposition, but collaboration. Science is inherently creative, while art requires technical skill and discipline. Together, they possess the capacity to reach more people than either could individually. In the realm of conservation, art becomes a uniquely effective vessel to communicate the beauty, fragility, and importance of our oceans.

Our current environmental reality – marked by floods, droughts, wildfires, and other catastrophic events – underscores the urgency of addressing climate change. As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issues a ‘code red for humanity’, the need for positive and actionable narratives is more crucial than ever.

Climate change is also a major threat to our oceans with detrimental impacts from warming waters, sea level rise and acidification. Today’s youth, despite experiencing climate anxiety and depression, find solace and inspiration in creativity and in artivism.

Artivism becomes a vehicle for this generation to resist, disrupt, and reject the narrative that solutions are too big, too expensive, or too radical. In the face of the planetary emergency we now face, creativity becomes a potent tool for change. The emotional responses captured in paintings, poems, essays, songs, and films speak to a collective consciousness.

They transform data-driven issues into empathetic concerns, inspiring a cultural shift toward respect and action for our blue planet. Through creativity, youth not only learn about environmental threats but also find their authentic voices and the courage to share them. The creative process becomes a means to investigate knowledge and feelings about environmental issues, fostering a sense of agency and empowerment.

The marriage of art and activism – artivism – emerges as a beacon of hope for ocean conservation. Creativity becomes a tool not just for raising awareness but for inspiring positive actions. In the hands of today’s youth, armed with knowledge and creativity, artivism is poised to lead the charge towards a healthier, more sustainable world. As art changes people, these empowered individuals are destined to change the world—one brushstroke, one note, one word at a time.

Artworks: Beauty and the Deep, Kaitlyn Ha, 2020
Greed Over Need, Valentin Nguyen, 2018
A Glimmer of Hope, Orion Yang, 2020
Plagued Waters, Kennedy Homan, 2019
Plastic Whale, Dafne Murillo, 2014
A Call for Change, JieJie Yuan, 2017
Liberty Leading the Soul, Adam Zhang, 2023