Summary of the Event
The event kicked off at 7am GMT with a morning yoga video performed by Adriene.The Virtual Symposium hosted over 25 renowned sustainability leaders, environmentalists, researchers, specialists on health, botanic conservation, resource management sustainable agriculture and building from around the world. Speaker such as Jeffrey Sachs, Adenike Akinsemolu, Marc Rosen, amongst others share their insights on our path towards sustainable development.
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Data Oruwari is Nigerian raised and Brooklyn based visual artist and user experience designer who is passionate about “Creativity” and it's role in shaping society.
ABOUT THE MODERATOR
Linda Moss is a handcrafted jewellery maker and the owner of Nzuri Gems, a handmade jewellery company. She also works in one of the foremost PR companies in Nigeria.
Q & A (SELECTED)
Linda Moss: The role of the Visual Arts towards achieving sustainable development has been quiescent. Where do the arts fit in towards our trajectory to sustainable development, and how can we make its impacts more pronounced?
Data Oruwari: In terms of virtual arts and its role in sustainable development, art has been a very active race in the sustainable development of nature and environment from time immemorial. This is because if we think of old painting from the roman and classical era where artist painted like landscapes, painted things about nature, things about animals. The virtual art role is that it made people appreciate the beauty of nature and animal life. And it’s the reason why people are being called to action, to actually protect these beautiful things. Images like nature, animals, and landscapes are very powerful in helping people to want to protect part of the environment. The goal of the virtual art has been to uplift human mind to that which is necessary for humanity, that which is uplifting, spiritual and would return us back to who we are truly as human beings and our existence. If artist are able to immerse on current environmental issues, we can contribute to help sustainable development conversation.
Linda Moss: With rising unemployment rates and recent job losses due to COVID-19, what is the economic advantage of the Virtual Arts, and how can it contribute to a country’s GDP?
Data Oruwari: In COVID, Every industry is taking the hit even the art industry not only countered by the virtual art but also the fine art. Everything in term of art, the coronary art, music art performance, visual, everything that has artis taking a tank right now but the beauty about fine art and art in general is that while there is the economic and monetary aspect of values, there is also the cultural aspect that is building values based on telling stories about human existence which as well what fosters company GDP. But right now, everything might take a hit but virtual art can play a role in these that this is a time for artists to actually be producing a lot of cultural values, so when the economy decide to pick up once COVID is over, we have quite an assets because art is something that never depreciate but appreciate overtime. This is the best time to support artist because a lot of them have had to cancel exhibitions and all.
Linda Moss: Dr. Adenike Akinsemolu, in her book The Principles of Green and Sustainability Science, pointed out the role of science in innovation and invention. How can we maximize the gains of an interfaculty approach towards achieving sustainable development?
Data Oruwari: One thing that comes to mind is something like NASA that started working with virtual art to express concerns about earth and space.
The best invention, the most creative ideas don’t come from people who have a narrow and focused mindset. It comes from when you have diversity and diverse mindset and skillsets. Science can be better and innovative when they learn to work with people who are not scientist, having some level of diversity. For Instance, Bill gates is one of the most innovative thinkers.
Quotes
“Arts have been a very active race in the sustainable development of nature and the environment from time immemorial.”
“The virtual art role is that it made people appreciate the beauty of nature and animal life.”
Top Comments
I am a big fan, really love your art works-Oluwaseunfunmi Adeeko
FURTHER READING
Özsoy, Vedat. (2016). Arts and design education for sustainable development. Global Journal on Humanities and Social Sciences.
Salzburgglobal. (2016). Beyond Green: The Arts as a Catalyst for Sustainability.