Artists as eco-activists

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Might the same be said of an oil- or water-colour on canvas depicting, say, a cracked river bed under a relentless sun, or a dance troupe playing villagers escaping in rickety rowing boats from the ruins that were their homes? Indeed, artists have drawn inspiration from climate change, but their works may not sell for seven-digit sums at Sotheby’s. Rather, the men and women wielding brushes and paints are doing more than raise awareness and communicate the sense of urgency in the face of challenges linked to global warming.

Climate action was at the core of the 5th Breaking Walls Dance Festival at the Italian Cultural Institute in Cairo.

The festival started with a multi-disciplinary demo that highlights the crimes that have been committed and are still being committed against Nature over thousands of years by humans.

The demo was performed by Hazem Haidar, artistic director of the Knot Contemporary Dance Troupe and the Breaking Walls Festival.

Haidar said the demo seeks to raise awareness of the environment and climate change through art.

The demo was followed by a discussion on arts and climate change with the participation of Sarah Refaat, theatre actress and founding member of Khoyout Troupe for Interactive Theatre. Aladdin Tawfik from The Grinch Corporation also participated in the festival.

Sarah Rifaat, who studied media and theatre at the American University in Cairo, said she had always been passionate about the environment since childhood. Later, she decided to employ art in a way that serves environment.

She is an instructor/facilitator with more than 10 years’ experience with workshops and sessions for community communication and environmental education through art. She is also involved in campaigning on climate change issues in Egypt and the Arab world.

The Khoyout Troupe is an independent group specialising in applied and interactive theatre. Formed in 2016 with the aim of using theatre as a tool for development and social change, they have staged 29 exhibitions and workshops in independent art spaces and in partnership with artistic and development institutions.

Aladdeen, a young, Cairo-based creative, 2D animator and an artist for impact, said he became interested in climate action when he was at school as he used to participate in campaigns related to environment. He then developed his interest for the environmental solutions. As an environmentalist, he hopes to make an impact to inspire younger generations to create more solutions and act more sustainably.