| VAULT |
Nina Slejko Blom & Conny Blom
"The Green Drawings - I Pledge"
| 03.09.- 31.10.2021 |
Curated by Malin Barth
Green for money, green for greed, green for nature, green for green deeds.
In this latest iteration of the project, Nina Slejko Blom & Conny Blom are once more swapping drawings for environmental pledges—albeit this time the drawings are bigger and framed, as becomes the setting of a former bank vault in one of the richest countries in the world. The Norwegian oil and gas industry has over the years provided large oil revenues. They have provided prosperity and high consumption, which in itself leads to emissions. In this way, Norway has contributed to climate-related destruction both here at home and around the world. Norway has a moral obligation to take a leading role in accordance with the Climate Convention and the Paris Agreement.
The drawings in the exhibition appear to be for free, but accepting a gift always comes with a price.
And the bigger the gift, the bigger the debt.
So let's talk about what we are willing to give. Many of us have grown up with a consumer culture and learned to let ourselves be dazzled by greed. Flight-shame and meat-shame are newer terms and good examples of the trend of turning responsibility for the climate catastrophe against ourselves. Collective guilt is becoming increasingly important. Dostoevsky put it pointedly: "make yourself responsible for all men's sins. As soon as you make yourself responsible in all sincerity for everything and for everyone, you will see at once that this is really so, and that you are in fact to blame for everyone and for all things.” We must all be aware of our responsibilities, both through the pattern of our consumption and the voice we give to elected politicians who pursue insufficient climate policies.
In parallel, we see an emerging tendency for the placement of guilt to be turned outwards towards politicians and top leaders; it is just a matter of time before they are held responsible for climate crimes against humanity. Don't you think we should make our politicians face up to the fact that eternal economical growth is incompatible with stopping the climate crisis? Why don't they regulate industries to ensure sustainability? In addition to teaching us responsible consumerism (read: individual guilt), should our countries not emphasize a ban on enterprises that are effecting the climate negatively when a more sustainable option is available, and hold the top leaders in charge of those activities personally liable through their active of passive actions for the damages inflicted on our globe?
And what thoughts do we make in relation to a state that will moderate our diets and energy consumption? Are we willing to drive cars just twice a week, fly a limited amount of miles, enjoy electricity-free evenings, and eat rationed food?
The bigger the gift, the bigger the profit.
If you desire a drawing, use the form provided to tell us about your plans to help stave off climate change and replace one drawing on the wall with this form.
Nina Slejko Blom (b. 1982, Slovenia) is an international contemporary artist currently based in Sweden. She is a post-studio artist, often examining the art world and its institutions, and various other power structures in her work.
In his artistic practice, Conny Blom (b. 1974, Sweden) works in many different media and frequently examines hierarchies and reveals alternative readings by remediating pre-existing material. Censorship and copyright are two topics that he has often returned to through the years.
Working both separately and in a team, they have made over 300 exhibitions at relevant institutions around the world.