Çevresel Yıkıntı Görüntüleri

Abstract

Environmental problems are the name given to the sum of the harmful effects of human activities on the biological and physical environment. These physical, chemical, biological, and social factors can directly or indirectly affect living organisms. Basic environmental problems; Climate change is air pollution, environmental degradation, and resource depletion. We, humans, differ not only in having superior intelligence but also in our ability to change the environment to meet our needs. The constant change in our environment poses a threat to the survival of the human species. We know that change is the fundamental law of nature. But changes over time affect people differently. As Darwin stated in his book The Origin of Species; "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives the most adaptable to change.''(Esin, 15.14.2021. Accessed: https://tinyurl.com/mztwknas) When this theory is applied to humans, we can say that those who are best adapted to the environment survive. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment reports published in 2005 highlight the high impact of humans on the ecosystem. (Davidson, 22.10.2021. Accessed: https://tinyurl.com/5n9xa3fk) Mankind seems to have an inherent tendency to self-destruct, and it is slowly but surely bringing us closer to destruction. Population growth, the rapid spread of consumer culture, and excessive pressure on limited natural resources cause the delicate balance of nature to be upset. What is worrying is that industries trying to meet the demands of consumers are damaging the environment and thus threatening the survival of the human species. Currently, the international community and some countries are considering controlling the world population growth, they need a new global agreement to put an end to population growth. Environmental destruction caused by natural disasters, wars, uncontrolled production, or consumption is not only a problem for environmentalists, scientists, politicians, or statesmen but also for artists. Environmental pollution and unplanned urbanization brought about by uncontrolled industrialization are the iv subjects that Western artists discussed in their works, especially right after the First World War. Within the scope of the thesis, the reflections on the methods, materials, and techniques used by artists on environmental destruction, whose works are thought to be included, will be examined in contemporary art. In this regard, the conceptual framework will be discussed and the works, tendencies, and concepts of artists such as Agnes Denes, Olafur Eliasson, Edward Burtynsky, Mel Chin, Mary Mattingly, and Cai Guo-Qiang will be mentioned. In this research, the description and content analysis of the application studies will be made.