“Climate Clock,” an upcoming project in Finland, will bring together artists and scientists to create a public art trail in Oulu, featuring seven installations that highlight climate change’s effects. Opening in June 2026, the project is curated by Alice Sharp and involves collaborations between artists and researchers, including glaciologist Alun Hubbard. The initiative emphasizes the urgent need to address the climate crisis while celebrating the region’s natural beauty.
In Finland, a groundbreaking initiative titled “Climate Clock” aims to unite artists and scientists in combating the climate crisis. This project will introduce a public art trail encompassing seven unique outdoor installations throughout Oulu, named Europe’s Capital of Culture for 2026. The artists, in collaboration with scientists, intend to highlight the region’s natural beauty and the urgent impacts of climate change, particularly as Oulu faces these challenges more acutely than the global average.
Slated for inauguration in June 2026, the art trail is curated by Alice Sharp, founder of the UK-based environmental art organization Invisible Dust. With a robust background of 15 years in merging artistic and scientific perspectives, Sharp emphasizes the necessity of confronting climate issues, stating, “The climate clock is ticking, the snow is melting… nature keeps its own time.”
Among the participating artists is Rana Begum, who partners with glaciologist Alun Hubbard from the University of Oulu. Drawing from Hubbard’s revealing research into the melting of Arctic glaciers, Begum will create an interactive sculpture series reflecting the region’s light and sea ice formations. She shares her transformative experience of realizing “the entire Arctic ice world is in motion” during her research visits to Oulu.
Other artists contributing to this vital project include prominent figures such as Ranti Bam, Gabriel Kuri, Takahiro Iwasaki, Antti Laitinen, and the Danish art collective Superflex. Each artist will bring distinct interpretations of environmental change through their works, thereby fostering a dialogue on the climate crisis.
This collective endeavor not only illustrates the urgency of the situation in Arctic regions but also serves as a beacon of hope, merging art and science to inspire greater awareness and action against climate change internationally.
The “Climate Clock” initiative in Oulu, Finland, represents a significant collaboration between artists and scientists aimed at raising awareness about climate change. With a public art trail featuring seven installations, the project invites reflection on the impacts of climate change, especially in northern climates. Through creative interpretations, this initiative seeks to inspire communities to engage with environmental issues.
Original Source: www.theartnewspaper.com
