Arte, ecología y emociones como intersección entre museo, sociedad y territorio

Abstract

The art and ecology exhibition Ceniza y Raíces, was produced by me as an artist in collaboration with the Environmental Service of the city of Hellín (Albacete, Spain). It was a transdisciplinary project of social museology developed from the beginning of January to the end of February 2023 in two locations: the MUSS (Museo de la Semana Santa de Hellín), the main museum in the city, and the forest on which the project focuses. This exhibition was created in response to a significant loss of the municipality's natural heritage following a forest fire that devastated 1977 hectares and, in turn, to the social demand it generated. Forest fires, which are becoming more frequent and severe, are a tangible indicator of the adverse effects of climate change. Through workshops, the project invited visitors to interact with the works of art, share their opinions, and contributed to the restoration of the areas damaged by the fire. These initiatives increased the population’s interest in the subject matter and fostered an approach to culture. Additionally, the results of the workshops reveal the connections between the loss of nature and emotions and the capacity of art to reinforce the effectiveness of environmental education. In order to achieve these results, a series of objectives were established, which are analysed in this article: to use art as a tool for environmental education, transform the museum into a space for experimentation and dialogue among participants, highlight the importance of transdisciplinary approaches, and emphasize the connection between biodiversity loss and emotions.

Keywords

• museum
• social museology
• sustainability
• art and ecology
• environmental education