Climate change and wildlife preservation are hard topics that make people disengage. Since reports and countless of evidences are not moving people to action, perhaps an immersive art exhibit might do the trick.
SM City Marilao recently mounted a wildlife preservation campaign through an art exhibit in partnership with Boysen and World Wildlife Fund. Dubbed as Art-ic Hueniverse, the exhibit aims to connect with shoppers and bring them into direct conversation with the future.
Located at the mall atrium, Art-ic Hueniverse consists of life-size Polar Bear sculptures painted colorfully by Guhit Pinas Bulacan Chapter. This signifies the plight of the endangered creatures and their dwindling habitat as a result of climate change.
Each display comes with Info Tech features that instantly connect smartphones to WWF’s facts and information about climate change and the arctic world.
Shoppers can scan the QR code to access information and learn more about saving the earth. The QR code also serves as an interactive guide as shoppers walk through and explore the attraction.
“Art-ic offers more than just photo ops but also thought provoking stories on climate change issues” said said SM City Marilao Mall Manager Engr. Emmanuel S. Gatmaitan. “The walk-through exhibit is a creative way to educate the public.”
While the exhibit provides an alternative platform for addressing imminent catastrophes, it also intends to inspire societal response by engaging audiences as catalysts for saving the earth.
“People understand climate change, but we have little grasp of the problem and how creatures, people and nations would be affected by it,” he added.
Art-ic Hueniverse will remain on display until August 1 in SM City Marilao’s Mall Atrium. Exhibition in other SM Malls are slated on August 12-18 at SM Center Sangandaan, August 19-25 at SM City Valenzuela and August 27- September 02 at SM Center Pulilan. Grand launch was held at SM City Baliwag last July 18.
“This exhibition hopes to raise more awareness not in confrontational way but in an empowering way so that people can think about how they can positively help in wildlife preservation and eventually saving the earth,” Gatmaitan said.
Images of a hungry and exhausted polar bear found roaming around Russia’s northern city of Norilsk have been widely shared on social media. This attests to one of the effects of climate change as it damages creature’s natural habitats and food supply, forcing them to scavenge for food on land and waste bins.
Because art has the ability to emotionally connect with audiences, SM’s Art-ic Hueniversetook cues from pop-up museums and experiential exhibits to expand art into something interactive and immersive zone for all ages.
Memphis’s approach to design, which was characterized by creativity and humor, were used to complement the 3D plexi glass effect of polar bears’ structure.
In the recent study, Philippines is one of the countries that will be hardest hit by climate change. SM believes that the Art-ic Hueniverse will help in inculcating a desire to the audience to respond to environmental challenge. It will also aid in sending the message out to wider audience to adopt practices toward a more sustainable society.