Eco in Denmark: Art and ecology (it's the International Year Of Biodiversity!)

When entering the train to say goodbye to Copenhagen some week ago, I passed the ambitious art installation at Kongens Nytorv in the middle of city centre - marking the 2010 International Year Of Biodiversity.


This was yet again an art installation about ecology, and it got to my mind how important ART can play a role for the whole concept of making 'ecology' more public: When there is no words or too much words to describe today's situation for people to get into the real feel of it, or when you feel pushed to understand something you don't and what you've got left is to listen to the heart, art can be the way to give you not the answer, but to inspire your mind to search for your own answer, in the state where you let go of the ego waiste and let yourself into the openness that is of art. The question: What did you feel when looking at this painting or film? Either way it moves you.

The Living Facade

The art project called The Living Facade, illustrates all the diversity of botanity, by installing seasonal plants from Scandinavian nature, directly into a modern, urban city building. This is practically nature and diversity coming to the city again. So back to art and ecology, Denmark here wants the city to bloom, just like Europe is so colorful with all the diversity in both culture and management. We need to picture this, also in nature, and into the architecture of course. Making similar minimalism in Scandinavia all empty of plants, seems unnatural to the different shades of our otherwise attitude.

One of the signs says, and here comes something everyone should absolutely know: "What is biodiversity? Life on earth has unfolded in countless diversity of genes, species, habitats and ecosystems. This biodiversity provides for our basic needs, such as food, water and clean air, but also delivers the resources that drive our economies. On the lighter side of life, biodiversity provides opportunities for recreation and socialising."

And further: "Despite its fundamental importance to human well-being, population growth and unsustainable consumption of natural resources are putting increasing pressure on the richness of life. Biodiversity is being lost at an alarming rate both globally and in Europe.

To raise public awareness about biodiversity, in 1993 the United Nations proclaimed 22 May as the International Day for Biological Diversity. Most recently it designated 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity."