2019 has been – perhaps – the year that the world has awakened sharply to spirituality and the environment – the urgency to reconnect to both is strong and palpable in new trends and in the approach to a future that has no option but to be as sustainable as possible.
The interactive site-specific light installation by artists Pekka Niittyvirta in collaboration with Timo Aho was located at the Outer Hebrides.
By use of sensors, the installation interacts with the rising tidal changes; activating on high tide. The work provides a visual reference of future sea-level rise, exploring the catastrophic impact of our relationship with nature and its long term effects. The work provokes a dialogue on how the rising sea levels will affect coastal areas, its inhabitants and land usage in the future.
This is specifically relevant in the low lying island archipelago of Uist in the Outer Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland, and in particular to Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre in Lochmaddy where the installation is situated. The centre cannot develop on its existing site due to predicted storm surge sea levels.
No matter what, we need to continue.
Greta Thunberg
Documentation of Installation by Pekka Niittyvirta & Timo Aho
