If you are an artist or collector, or even a self-claimed art lover, you probably have heard of the new terminology called “sustainable art.”

As the world has been rapidly moving to the idea of living green, its trend in art is no exception. People have a deeper understanding of the need to protect Mother Earth and we are seeing more artists embrace this value and reflect it in the work of their art. So what is sustainable art? The concept of sustainability in art can be defined in various ways. 

Largely we can divide it into two types: 

• Artwork that reflects current environmental issues
• Work done by Eco Artists, where the materials and studio practices have a green footprint or are primarily made using recycled materials.

Earth’s climate is rapidly changing, and not for the better. Global temperatures have been rising, and we have all witnessed the series of storms, droughts, floods, and fires around the world over the past decade. Climate change not only impacts mother nature, but also heavily affects human society and wellbeing. As an individual in one society and community, it is our role to be aware and to know what to do - take action. Humans experience the world through sensation thus visual information is crucial. Issues have been shown through images and videos in social media stating our current global state. Unfortunately, we are all guilty of continuing to scroll our screens to see something much more eye-catchy and entertaining such as your photogenic food plate from the new cafe you went to last week, that make-up tutorial by a famous influencer or your favorite singer posting his selfie. 

Here is where ‘sustainable art’ comes in, a pleasant eye candy, but not your usual visual stimulation - it has lessons or values to be told. Sustainable art represents innovation and environmental awareness, in the most beautiful way. While sustainability requires us to reflect on how we consume and create - including designing art - it also provides the opportunity for artists and designers to rethink their approach. Sustainable art combines science and design for the benefit of both the audience and the environment. For art lovers, such new forms of art invite our friends and family, and the whole Hong Kong to participate in taking interest in sustainable art. Together, art makes collective dialogues. We believe that knowledge is power. When people become more aware of the global issues, we can do more. Because in the end, we only have one planet Earth.