Art and the Environment in the Era of Sustainability Culture

Abstract

This study aims to structure the relationship between the individual and the environment through a philosophical system of visual messages within a contemporary, multimedia, and multidisciplinary artistic framework. It seeks to guide human behavior toward environmental partnership rather than resource depletion, elevating marginalized elements to the forefront. This is achieved through a creative vision that adapts these elements and explores the profound evolutionary interconnectedness between art and nature. Using a descriptive-analytical methodology, the study deepens the comprehensive artistic vision regarding the ecosystem's significance to human existence. It examines the variations in artistic creativity in activating environmental elements to express visual and critical perceptions, while also condemning the use of environmental pollutants for economic gain at the expense of quality. The study consists of three sections. The first section introduces the research problem, posing the question: How is the relationship between contemporary art and the environment represented in fostering a culture of sustainability? It also highlights the importance of this relationship in raising public awareness of environmental issues and disseminating a culture of sustainability through an aesthetic visual discourse. The objective scope of the research includes visual artworks that present the environment from diverse creative perspectives. The temporal scope spans from 2008 to 2024, while the spatial scope includes Italy, Canada, and Ireland. The second section addresses the concept of development, shallow and deep ecology, and the ecological roots in art from the Renaissance to Postmodernism, alongside the paradigms of contemporary environmental arts