Virtual Sustainability in Digital Realms: Insights from Merlina Rañi at E-ART Initiative
Fiery Gab:
Hey there! Feels great to chat with you, and today we're gonna deep dive into the intersection of virtual environments and sustainability with the talented Merlina Rani. As a badass E-Art trainer, artist, and curator, she's tackling hard-hitting ecological and social issues with digital tools. Her latest project, Lithium Republic XYZ, is no exception, so let's dig in!
Merlina Rani: Virtual spaces furnish a realm for exploration, creativity, and simulation that can dope-slap sustainability issues like a solutions-focused punch. Virtual environments let us tinker with problems, peek at places, and uncover their bones — structure, dynamics, and all. Representations are the bread and butter of understanding, and we've been nailing virtual representations since before tech even got cool.
Virtual spaces are much more than technological playgrounds; they're our own versions of reality, our personal and collective imagery, and frameworks to question and act upon. In my projects, I use digital simulations as a visionary tool to spur political imagination, nurture alternative narratives, and challenge society's status quo. Virtual spaces offer a rehearsal ground to test and explore new ways of seeing and doing life. My goal is to design these spaces and open them to folks, as I strongly believe they can help us envision a future rooted in sustainability and equality.
As an artist: Pissed off about sustainability, ecology, and environmental justice? My mojo is to create badass art projects that'll have you standing up and demanding change. For example, alongside Cristian Espinoza, we're developing a platform to analyze the Lithium Triangle, a geographical area in South America jam-packed with reserves of lithium crucial for the global energy transition. Our mission is twofold: on one hand, to expose how the growth of lithium demand is twisting the region into a web of extraction and exploitation; on the other hand, to showcase its rich cultural and biological tapestry. We're collecting info, rallying key players, and quenching our thirst for knowledge about digital tools. The project, Lithium Republic XYZ, mingles geohumanities, indigenous criticism, and decentralization. It's all about birthing new narratives and decentralizing power. And I ain't an artist if you ask me, but my curatorial practice ain't shy to strap on the artist's brush because I dig experimenting with non-linear narratives.
As a curator: Prototyping a more sustainable future, one brilliant art piece at a time? As a curator, I'm all about posing collective-scale questions and rallying diverse voices to find the answers. I strive for responsible consumption and, in my practice, direct my focus on transforming our collective perspectives. I think that we're all products of our era and society. As individuals, we can awaken ourselves, but as a collective, we have the power to bring change. When executing virtual exhibits, I craft lightweight, user-friendly environments that consume minimal energy. And when I organize physical exhibitions, I use only eco-friendly materials and recycle like there's no tomorrow.
Digital media's hidden costs: Who's paying for all the electricity that keeps those pixelated dreams alive? Digital media's got hidden ecological costs like energy consumption, data storage, and e-waste. In projects like Lithium Republic XYZ, I dive into the meat of digitality, focusing more on the multilayer struggles shaping the latest sacrifice zones under colonial rule. Workin' with this tech often leaves you with sticky fingers, forced to choose between raising a middle finger to it all or figuratively squeezing the juice out this juicy opportunity. On another note, I often ruminate over the waste dump of Agbogbloshie, trying to imagine a brighter future for its residents. I believe that treating e-waste locally, rather than shipping it far away, could help educate communities about the issue and spark further action.
Collaboration and community: On a mission to build a sustainable future together? Collaborative spaces are rough waters to navigate, but this isn't a sailor's adventure — it's about shining the light where it needs to be and making sustainable practices easier to dig, pal. While there's no one-size-fits-all approach, fostering trust and open discussion is essential. Switchin' from the high seas to the digital realm, I aim to facilitate collaborative engagement through platforms that make adoption of sustainable practices smoother. But remember, the most remarkable change begins within ourselves; we must make peace with our bad habits before we point fingers at others.
Future perspectives: Art galleries double as tiny greenhouses for ideas, so there's never a dull moment. But art institutions have a crucial role to play in promoting sustainability in the art scene. By showcasing eco-friendly content, institutions can lead by example and encourage the community to embrace greener practices. I'm a fan of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) and other movements that redistribute power, shifting it from bigwigs to the collective. By fostering this new approach, we can break down traditional power structures and create multiple, diverse, and more inclusive spaces. So let's get our heads together, shake off the chains, and push the boundaries of art for a greener, fairer tomorrow.
Sustainability Action Plan at art institutions: Art institutions play a vital role as catalysts for societal change. By focusing on themes such as sustainability, equality, and accessibility, they shape the artistic discourse and influence society. Here's my take on what they can do:
- Show don't tell: Offer examples of sustainable practices by using eco-friendly materials for exhibits, reducing energy consumption, recycling waste, and implementing clean transportation solutions.
- Walk the walk: Educate employees and artists on the importance of sustainability and provide resources to help them adopt greener practices in their work and personal lives.
- Critique conventional norms: Foster critical dialogue around environmental issues and encourage artists to create work that sparks conversation and inspires action.
- Adapt and evolve: Embrace new technologies and movements such as DAOs and blockchain to empower communities and decentralize decision-making processes.
- Collaborate across disciplines: Partner with organizations, community groups, and scholars working on sustainability issues to create multidisciplinary projects that tackle complex problems and generate innovative solutions.
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decentralizationartshistory.stackexchange.com/questions/19874/what-is-a-lithium-triangle-and-why-is-it-important-to-the-green-energy-revoluthoustonmuseumofnaturalscience.org/exhibits-events/exhibits/daos-unleash-the-power-of-community/
- Merlina Rani's project, Lithium Republic XYZ, uses digital simulations to shed light on the ecological and social impacts of the global energy transition, focusing on the Lithium Triangle in South America.
- Virtual environments, according to Merlina Rani, offer a unique opportunity to question and act upon sustainability issues, serving as a rehearsal ground for testing and exploring new ways of living and seeing life.
- As an artist and curator, Merlina Rani focuses on creating art and curating projects that promote sustainability, equality, and social justice, leveraging technology like artificial intelligence and Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) to decentralize power and nurture alternative narratives.
- The hidden ecological costs of digital media, such as energy consumption, data storage, and e-waste, are often overlooked, and Merlina Rani's projects strive to expose these issues, with initiatives like the Lithium Republic XYZ seeking to bring attention to e-waste management and educate communities about its importance.
- Sustainability in the art world is essential, according to Merlina Rani, and art institutions can lead by example by adopting eco-friendly practices, fostering critical dialogue about environmental issues, partnering with sustainability organizations, and embracing new technologies like DAOs to decentralize power and empower communities.
