Audiovisualising climate data: Art and climate action

The conference Data Art for Climate Action on sonification, visualisation and climate action took place in 2022 in Hong Kong, Graz and online. The author was the Art Track chair for the interdisciplinary conference which sought to bring together climate scientists and activists with visual, media and sound artists, and curated the exhibition DAT/ACT Data Art for Climate Action Gallery which included art works from the open call for the conference and those from invited local artists. The paper considers the strategies used in the art works and the presentation formats for the online exhibition as well as the curatorial approach for the theme of climate change and climate action. Many of the works used sonification, visualisation or audiovisualisation: the simultaneous use of sonification and visualisation. All three may be found in the field known as visual and auditory display where its objective may be more didactic (portraying the data behind climate change with clarity) and in the field of art and music where its purpose may be more creative (as visual and sound “material”). The possibilities found along the continuum between visual and auditory display on the one hand and art and music on the other hand will be discussed. From the outset, the conference was intended to include online presentations in the spirit of the theme of the conference. Due to Covid-related restrictions, in-person attendance in Hong Kong became impossible and as a result, both the conference and DAT/ACT Data Art for Climate Action Gallery only took place online. The possibilities and subtle distinctions between a website, online documentation and the online presentation of works became apparent for sound and moving image-based works and will be discussed. The exhibition and the conference as a whole considered the possibilities of art and data art in the context of climate action. As well as effective science communication, the authors state that “what is necessary is a consideration of how artists can engage with the topic of climate change and how the viewer/listener can in turn engage with such artworks.” The paper concludes with an evaluation and discussion on possible future developments.