Making the invisible visible. Using art to engage people in healthy urban development

Sardo, Margarida; Larbey, Ruth; Laggan, Sophie

Abstract

“Shape our City” is a UWE Bristol creative engagement project working with researchers and Bristol-based citizens and organisations on understanding the city's priorities for achieving healthy urban development.

In this project we developed a range of artistic interventions, including a sculpture. We worked with British installation artist Luke Jerram to create Inhale, an eye-catching sculpture representing a diesel soot particle. The installation is three million times larger than the actual particle and aimed to draw people's attention to the health impacts of poorly designed cities. Inhale was first shown at the Festival of Nature and then in College Green for Clean Air Day (both locations in Bristol). The sculpture was donated to We The Curious, the local science centre, where is now on permanent display.

In this paper we explore how art can be used to engage people with issues such as healthy urban development and air pollution. We discuss how art can spur people into action or fill them with fear.

• Presentation Conference Type: Presentation / Talk
• Conference Name: SciComm South West 2019
• Start Date: Jun 21, 2019
• End Date: Jun 21, 2019
• Acceptance Date: Jun 21, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 15, 2019
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: engagement, art, science, air pollution, public engagement, science communication
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1492594
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : SciComm South West 2019