People raise awareness of environmental issues through various means. Many artists explore such themes in their work, expressing much more through the visual medium than words can. Their contributions deserve recognition.
Here are nine permaculture artists and how they support mindful living.
1. Agnes Dennis
Agnes Denes was a Hungarian-American artist who is perhaps best known for her work Rice/Tree/Burial, which art historian Peter Selz calls the first Large-scale site-specific works focusing on ecological issues.
Denes is known for drawing inspiration from a variety of disciplines, including psychology, linguistics, poetry, history, music, and sociopolitical movements. She holds numerous honorary doctorates from multiple institutions, lectures and attends conferences nationally and internationally.
2. John Akonfora
John Akomfrah was born in Ghana and now lives in London. He is a pioneering filmmaker exploring the legacy of colonialism, environmental degradation and the black experience. He is the founder of the Black Audio Film Collective, which celebrates black identity in British culture. His epic film Four Nights explores the fate of elephants whose declining numbers are intertwined with Ghana’s political history.
3. Justin Almaraz
For ordinary people, tattoos are a valuable way to communicate their values with permanent ink. Justine Almaraz of Earth Altar Studio uses her unique insights into human psychology and her spiritual background to create unique designs that are in tune with the frequency of God/consciousness. Her unusual approach begins with an interview where she freehand draws a design based on what you’re talking about. Whether you prefer bold colors, intricate designs or optical illusions, she can style your sleeves with style.
4. Julius Bolanos-Dulman
Juli Bolanos-Durman attended several international art schools before settling in Edinburgh to pursue her life’s work. What is unique about her is her way of finding discarded glass objects and repurposing them and giving them new life. By arranging them in stunningly original and eye-catching ways, she shows how elegant it is to turn trash into treasure.
5. Lin Ying
Maya Lin is best known for her large-scale environmental buildings, such as the Nelson Library in Northampton, Massachusetts. The building is also a stunning work of art, with a central oculus to take advantage of natural light, recycled materials used throughout, and double glazing and special glass to deflect bird strikes. The arrangement of walkways and plantings provides an elegant and scenic way to travel around the campus.
6.KT Tunstall
KT Tunstall is probably best known for her hit song “Dark Horse and the Cherry Tree.” However, she has always had a strong environmental awareness. She built an eco-friendly home and used biodiesel to run her tour bus, always aware of the inherent contradictions of the system. She reconciled flying and playing golf in venues with plastic cups by controlling the factors she could control and using her voice to advocate for cleaner practices.
7. Alison Jana Hamilton
Allison Janae Hamilton works in sculpture, installation, photography and film. Born in Kentucky, raised in Florida, she now makes her home in the rural plains of Tennessee. Her work explores how the American landscape contributes to perceptions of the nation and how climate change affects social relations in the American South.
8. Benjamin von Huang
Benjamin Von Wong is a Canadian artist, activist and photographer. His work combines everyday objects with shocking statistics and has received over 100 million views on causes such as ocean plastic and electronic pollution. Projects include an 11-foot-long skull covered in electronic waste to reveal Bitcoin’s impact on climate change.
9. Anna Mendieta
Ana Mendieta is a Cuban interdisciplinary artist specializing in sculpture. She is best known for her earth/body works, such as her “Silueta Series,” which featured her body and later its absence in a way that connected with the natural world. Her work continues to influence people today, evoking awareness of the maternal side of life and incorporating organic materials such as earth, water and fire.
Sustainable artists and their contributions
Permaculture artists use mediums that transcend words to convey important messages and reveal deep truths about the human experience. Celebrating their creations raises awareness while touching the human spirit and bringing more beauty to the world.
About the author
Oscar Collins is the editor-in-chief of Modded and writes about health and fitness. Follow him on Twitter @TMModded Get regular updates on his work and subscribe to Modded Minute to learn more!
