Artists for Social Change

By Danielle Pope

Artist Miriam Cabello showcases her artwork from the Cause and Effect exhibition
Artist Miriam Cabello showcases her artwork from the Cause and Effect exhibition
How this latest exhibition is advancing social issues through the arts

Belgian artist Frie Leysen said, “Art should not please. Art has to show where it hurts in our societies, in our world.”

It is with this sentiment in mind, that the latest exhibition Cause and Effect – Artists for Social Change is using the arts to challenge preconceptions and give a voice to pertinent social issues.

As part of Vivid Ideas 2017, the exhibition will prompt audiences to consider and deliberate complex, multi-faceted and sensitive themes, such as War and Conflict, Environmental Destruction, Racism and Islamophobia. Works will be showcased by six artists including Andrew Srisurapon, Mandy Schone-Salter, Marwa Charmand, Miriam Cabello, Sherine Tan and Tia Kass.

The exhibition opening will be accompanied by a forum, where a panel consisting of academics, artists and NGOs will discuss what the artworks bring to the broader conversation, and how artists can play a more active role as agents for social change.

Co-curators Kevin Bathman, Miriam Cabellow and Zara Choy believe that arts have an untapped power to change the world. They say that the aim of the exhibition is “to inspire and awaken greater public consciousness to create deeper engagement with social causes, in alternative and more easily accessible ways – via the arts.”

Cabello has always been motivated by issues of social justice in creating her art. She says that the arts have a unique way of presenting these issues that can engage and empower the viewer, in a way that traditional media cannot. “Artists bring interesting and unique perspectives to the mix, and engage audiences in new and different ways,” she explains. “Through Cause and Effect – whether an individual, not for profit, government or conscious business – we can find new ideas and new narratives that will shape our world, and future.”

Cause and Effect is showing as part of the Vivid Ideas Festival. The launch night is Saturday 27 May, and runs for two weeks. For more information see their website 

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