Captain Planet

This iconic work by the group is part of an exhibition titled “ZNE Examples to Follow” that,in the last year-and-a-half,has travelled to many parts of Europe before arriving in Mumbai. Curated by Adrienne Goehler — a prominent journalist,curator and cultural debater — the exhibition is one of many events for Germany and India 2011-2012,which celebrates 60 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries. It addresses the troubling issues of climate change and shrinking biodiversity with the idea to actively involve the arts and sciences with matters of sustainable development. “Sustainability that understands itself as intervening and fashioning something new cannot work without the arts and sciences,” says Goehler. “They teach how to think in transitions,interim solutions,models,and projects,” adds Goehler.

“ZNE Examples to Follow” showcases the works of nearly 50 artists from around the world,including four Indian artists — Sharmila Samant,Ravi Agarwal,Madhusree Dutta and Manish Nai. The ongoing exhibition is spread over five South Mumbai galleries — Galerie Max Mueller,Kala Ghoda; Studio X,Fort; Premchand Roychand Gallery,Fort; Project 88,Colaba; and Gallery Maskara,Colaba. It will continue till March 10 at each of these galleries.

At Gallery Maskara are another two outstanding works — Miguel Rothschild’s The House of the Atlanteans and Flooded McDonald’s by the Danish group,Superflex. The former,a large sculpture occupying a good part of the gallery space,is made entirely from plastic bottles. On one side of the sculpture is a cavity of sorts with an inflatable chair,designed to allow viewers to have a seat and mull over the idea of sustainability. Flooded McDonald’s is a 21-minute long video that shows the gradual,but seemingly unavoidable,flooding of a McDonald’s outlet. Trays,French fries and cups float by as you watch and then drown with everything else in the restaurant. A sign of things to come,perhaps,as global warming goes unchecked.

After its Mumbai run,the show will travel to Ethiopia,Beijing and more venues,before returning to Europe in 2014. The response,Goehler says,has been fantastic. “The audience loves to come in and see the works and interact. We are delighted by how much the idea that everyone can act is being accepted by the public,” adds Goehler.