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Isabel Nogueira, University of Lisbon, PortugalAbstract
In the face of the ecological crisis that defines the Anthropocene, art emerges as a transformative force, interrogating not only the human impact on the planet but also the shifting relationship between nature, technology, and culture. This paper investigates how contemporary art practices, enriched by technological advancements, respond to the environmental challenges of the current epoch, offering new modes of perception and engagement with ecological issues. Through a multidisciplinary approach, it examines how artists employ cutting-edge technologies—such as artificial intelligence, immersive environments, bioart, and digital media—to create works that evoke both the devastation wrought by anthropogenic forces and the potential for ecological renewal. Drawing upon critical ecological theory and post-humanist thought, this study delves into how art reconfigures human agency within the broader web of life, urging a radical rethinking of our role in planetary ecosystems. In this context, art becomes a space for exploring the non-human, the post-anthropocentric, and the speculative, providing a forum for imagining futures where technology and nature are no longer seen in opposition, but as interwoven agents of transformation. Through an analysis of contemporary artworks, this paper proposes that art, far from being a passive reflection, is an active participant in the creation of new ontologies and ethical frameworks that address the pressing ecological crisis, advocating for a deeper, more symbiotic relationship with the Earth. In this context, we can highlight, as examples, the unsettling, accusatory, poetic installations of John Akomfrah, Ólafur Elíasson, Jennifer Allora & Guillermo Calzadilla, Ursula Biemann and Arthur Jafa.
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Conference: ECAH2025Stream: Arts - Arts Theory and Criticism
This paper is part of the ECAH2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Nogueira I. (2025) Art, Anthropocene and Technology: Exploring New Approaches to the Ecological Crisis ISSN: 2188-1111 – The European Conference on Arts & Humanities 2025: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 45-50) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2188-1111.2025.5
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2188-1111.2025.5
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