Glasgow: Protest art display ahead of COP26

ID Campbell with Protest Art: a Lament in Black Paint

A protest art exhibition has opened at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum featuring three striking portraits, the faces partly obscured by black paint. All three paintings represent lives that have been devastated by the climate crisis in countries around the world. The paintings, by Glasgow-based artist ID Campbell, have been commissioned by Christian Aid, Islamic Relief UK and Tearfund ahead of COP26, to shine a spotlight on stories from the vulnerable communities within which they work - communities that are on the frontline of the climate crisis.

Protest Art: a Lament in Black Paint is an exhibition that the three international development organisations hope will help amplify global voices over the coming weeks and prompt action, in what is widely regarded as a critical United Nations climate summit and a pivotal moment for the planet. Concerns have been raised that the number of people from the global south able to actively participate in COP26 in person may be reduced because of the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on international travel.

The exhibition runs until 24th of October at the Kelvingrove, then it will go on tour and appear at a number of prominent venues in the city during COP26 including Glasgow Cathedral, St George's Tron and Glasgow Central Mosque.

Head of Christian Aid Scotland, Sally Foster-Fulton said: "Protest art allows us to explore the issues around climate change in a really powerful way and by dipping each painting in black paint we're able to visually represent the way the actions of the industrialised north are impacting on our sisters and brothers around the world.

"This injustice must be at the heart of COP26 and the voices of communities in the global south must be at the centre of decision-making. Each portrait is one of our global neighbours and we owe it to Joyce, Rita and Dhital and the communities they represent, to make sure their stories and lived experiences are amplified this November."

Maria Zafar, Campaigns and Public Affairs Coordinator at Islamic Relief UK said: "Islamic Relief UK, Christian Aid and Tearfund have teamed up on this project to bring attention to the impact climate change is having on vulnerable communities - and to ensure they are not forgotten during COP 26 negotiations next month.

"Climate emergencies are becoming more frequent, and whilst we may see them reported on the news, we rarely see how communities adapt in the long run.

"These images seek to change that. They are a vivid representation of the effects climate change is having on communities worldwide and how individuals are forced to change their lifestyles in the face of devastation."

Graeme McMeekin, Head of Tearfund Scotland, said: "This exhibition is such a striking but sobering way to convey the damage our organisations are seeing on a daily basis around the world, as people are increasingly being pushed back further into extreme poverty as a result of the climate crisis. For every bit of progress, we take a backwards step when we fail to address this harsh reality, which Iain has captured so vividly.

"With COP26 right on our doorstep, we have a real opportunity right now to tell the stories of those who cannot be in Glasgow at this time, but whose lives and livelihoods hang in the balance with every word uttered at this conference."

The three charities are grateful to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum for allowing the protest art to be displayed in one of Scotland's most iconic art venues, in the run up to COP26.

Artist I.D. Campbell says it's been a privilege to collaborate on this project and hopes people will take the time to see the paintings while they are at the Kelvingrove and read the stories behind the portraits. He said: "When I paint portraits, it elevates who this person is in people's minds. People become curious about who is in the painting and want to know what their story is. We want the public to be curious about the real stories of those on the frontline of the climate emergency and hungry to see climate justice."

Councillor David McDonald, Chair of Glasgow Life and Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council said: "COP26 is a real opportunity for us all to make the changes needed to stop more lives around the world being destroyed by the effects of climate change. These paintings demonstrate the all too real consequences of global warming and are a stark reminder of exactly what is at stake when many of the world's leaders head to Glasgow at the end of the month. Glasgow has already declared a climate emergency because we realise the effects being felt today will only become worse in the generations to come without new measures being agreed."

Painting one is the story of Joyce, a mother of two, lost her home during a cyclone in Malawi. She has now re-trained as a tailor.
Painting two shows Rita from Bangladesh. Rita and her family were living in extreme poverty in an area battered by cyclones and storms. Rita now grows sunflowers for a living.

Painting three tells the story of Dhital and his family who lost their home and livelihood in devastating floods. They now have a new home that is both earthquake and flood-resistant.

LINK

Christian Aid - www.christian-aid.org.uk