Bengaluru, Nov 17, 2024 – A unique exhibition in Bengaluru is exploring the intersectionalities between climate, gender, class and caste through an immersive museum. As the world witnesses global leaders discussing climate concerns and targets at COP29, Greenpeace India and the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP) are hosting, Climate at the margins: Gender, class and caste vulnerabilities which is bringing forth real people and their stories of loss, survival and resilience in the face of the climate crisis.
The highlight of the exhibition is a digital museum of everyday objects that tells real stories of people who endured extreme weather events in different parts of India. Sabari, popularly known as Meancurry on Instagram for his quirky humour and art, has designed the exhibition. ‘We combined various visual and storytelling techniques with the museum’s technology to sensitively bring these stories to life. News about climate disasters often reduces the damage to numbers and statistics. Through this exhibition, we had the opportunity to share the raw, human stories behind those numbers’, says Sabari. After travelling to Chennai and Delhi, the Museum of Memories exhibition has arrived in Bengaluru, this time in the form of a digital museum.
‘As the world looks to COP for progress on climate finance, the Museum of Memories highlights a vital truth: those most affected by climate disasters are often the least responsible for them. As the fossil fuel industry continues to profit without any accountability, communities on the front lines are in increasingly urgent need of support to adapt.’, says Amruta S.N., Climate Campaigner at Greenpeace India. Fossil fuels accounts for over 75 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions. She further emphasises that it’s time for a ‘polluters pay principle’, ie., governments must secure finance for community resilience, ensuring that those who’ve driven the climate crisis pay up for the loss and damage they’ve caused.
Bhumika Saraswati, journalist and filmmaker, who works at the intersection of climate, caste, and gender is holding a workshop at the event that focuses on creative documentation of the impacts of extreme heat, and how heat intersects with gender, caste, and identity in our everyday life. We will also reflect on the gendered nature of certain crises and how they exacerbate existing inequalities. ‘Any conversation on climate is incomplete without addressing the intersections of gender and caste, especially in India and the whole of South Asia, where caste and patriarchy are central to our social and climate justice challenges. Women, particularly those from oppressed caste and class backgrounds, experience extreme weather events disproportionately. Climate discussions must centre our communities—those most affected—to ensure an equitable and inclusive approach to justice. It is high time.’
The two-day event also includes episodes of Story Circles, an interactive event where community storytellers share personal experiences of loss, hope, and resilience in the face of the climate crisis. An immersive virtual reality video is also on display allowing viewers to experience the beauty and fragility of the Sundarbans through the story of Badal Das, a local fisherman.
About Greenpeace India
Greenpeace India is a part of the global environmental organisation, dedicated to tackling pressing environmental challenges through advocacy, campaigns, and public engagement. Greenpeace India’s Climate Justice Campaign advocates for accountability, equitable policy changes, and climate finance to address the rising climate impacts felt by communities in South Asia.
About the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP)
MAP is a non-profit, private art museum based in Bengaluru, India that is a custodian to a collection of Indian art, textiles, photography, craft, and design objects spanning from the twelfth century to the present. The latest event is under its cluster of programming conceptualised under the permanent exhibition VISIBLE/INVISIBLE: Representation of Women in Art through the MAP Collection.
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