ART AS A VECTOR FOR SUSTAINAIBLITY
IDEARTS
New paths of learning
Art can be defined in a thousand different manners. In today’s world, it is increasingly regarded as a way to learn and share about sustainability and green technologies; as a lever to raise awareness on climate change and throw light on workarounds for global warming; as a means to better understand the problematics of our times and the prospects for our future.
For its very first edition, Vadviam’s IDEARTS programme has invited Architecture and Landscape Architecture students from renowned Shanghai Jiao Tong School of Design to create artworks intended to illustrate environmental issues and offer solutions for global sustainability.
You, in turn, are now invited to discover the eclectic results of these students’ industry, imagination and sense of humour.
What is it all about?
The IDEARTS programme aims at demonstrating that the arts can facilitate learning about sustainability and green technologies. The 2022 edition of the programme was made possible thanks to the collaboration between Vadviam and Shanghai Jiao Tong School of Design, as well as the participation of Architecture and Landscape Architecture students.
The programme in numbers
The need for climate-friendly technologies has never been more critical. However, in order to efficiently implement such technologies and thus change market behaviours, proper education, public acceptance and social awareness are essential.
It has been shown time and time again: art, by reaching out to our emotions, can efficiently communicate and interconnect ideas. Art has no match when it comes to understanding the science behind green technologies and make students discover information in a different, innovative way. We believe that creating cultural and artistic references can build a bridge between technology and communities, contributing to the urgently needed acceptance and awareness of the emerging technical solutions.
The IDEARTS programme aims at demonstrating that art can inspire action, illustrate complex issues and make technical subjects more accessible and better understood.
Creating cultural and artistic references can build a bridge between the green technologies and the communities, contributing to the awareness of the emerging technical solutions.
Work of WANG Shichen, Student of Architecture,
Shanghai Jiao Tong School Of Design
The programme invites freshmen and sophomores in Architecture and Landscape Architecture of Shanghai Jiao Tong School of Design to explain and illustrate, through artistic perspectives, the concepts of sustainability. After an initial introduction by the Vadviam team to the problematics of green technologies, these students were guided by Dr. CHEN Ting, associate professor of Shanghai Jiao Tong School of Design and her colleagues, and created works referring to sustainability and green technologies. The created artworks are to be exhibited at the University, allowing students and their community to familiarize themselves with green technologies thematics. The physical exhibition is accompanied by a virtual exhibition and communication organized by Vadviam, in order to demonstrate the potential of art as a vector for green technologies.
Introduction of the programme done by associate Prof. CHEN Ting and Vadviam (virtually).
Students at Shanghai Jiao Tong School of Design are invited to illustrate, through an artistic perspective, the concepts of sustainability.
The learning objectives
The IDEARTS programme revolved around the theme of learning about green technologies for climate change mitigation, and it was supported by information from scientific literature and studies.
The first objective related to the students, who acquired the new knowledge through artistic work. Several studies have shown that learning complex concepts through artmaking helps memorize information and gain insight on technical matters. Moreover, it can contribute to the development of lateral thinking, creativity and innovative problem solving, all of which are strongly sought-after qualifications in the job market today. The second learning objective was directed at the community itself. Analyses worldwide, such as the International Panel on the Climate Change, show that the public awareness and social acceptance of sustainable solutions are essential elements to be considered in their implementation. Besides, art has a capacity of making these solutions accessible to local communities and of promoting a better understanding of green technologies.
The educational objectives of the programme were to acquire new knowledge through art and raise awareness of environmental solutions in the local communities.
Work of Abida Ablajan and QIN Xue,
Students of Landscape Architecture
Shanghai Jiao Tong School Of Design
As future decision makers who will be shaping urban living spaces, students of Architecture and Landscape Architecture faculties had an unique opportunity to acquire the sustainable technologies knowledge in a novel way, and convey it further to the community by means of their artworks.
Strong social and environmental impacts
Today’s students of Architecture and Landscape Architecture faculties are acquiring the knowledge that will help them design their local environment in a sustainable way. The project results in a local exhibition of artworks within the university space, making it accessible for the whole academic community, as well as in a virtual exhibition curated by Vadviam and reaching out to audiences across Europe and North America. The IDEARTS programme may also contribute to the increased accessibility and interest in directional education connected to natural sciences. Lastly, the programme puts forward an international collaboration between China and France, with communications reaching students and communities worldwide, allowing the programme’s overall impact to extend beyond social, geographical and linguistic boundaries.
Participants of the programme (DENG Jiajie, Jia Yi Da Er and DONG Xuran) preparing the works.
IDEARTS helps the learning of the sustainable solutions, supports local community education, and promotes collaboration across social, geographical and linguistic boundaries.
The survey and student’s feedback
Following the completion of the IDEARTS project, the participating students were invited to fill up a questionnaire aimed at gathering their feedback. The results of this survey are presented hereunder.
IDEARTS shown me that environmental solutions can be expressed through art
IDEARTS showed me that creativity and technical thinking can go hand in hand
IDEARTS motivated me to learn more about environmental matters
“I think this programme is of great success to let us know more about environment protection and it helps us learn some skills and get experiences.”
“It’s a meaningful programme for us to build a kind of new connection between human beings and environment.”
IDEARTS inspired me to engage more in sustainability topics
IDEARTS gave me a new perspective on the interconnection of the human and environmental aspects
IDEARTS inspired me to be more creative when approachnig technical problems
“I think it is a perfect way to guide our students to regarding creative and extraordinary solutions for sustainability.”
“The more, the better!”
IDEARTS gave me new ideas regarding solutions for sustainability
IDEARTS showed me that lateral thinking can be a way of solving the problems of tomorrow
IDEARTS inspired me to use science as an element of creative projects
