Not waving, but drowning - Exhibitions

My island home… It sounds idyllic, right? But not so for the tiny Republic of Kiribati, a series of atolls in the Equatorial Pacific that are slowly but surely disappearing.

The environmental challenges facing Kiribati is the subject of two new exhibitions that open at the ANU School of Art tomorrow night.

Storm surges, freakish waves, salination of fresh water wells and lands, unpredictable weather and tidal increases are all contributing to the country’s physical demise.

Australian artist Jon Lewis spent six months travelling through the atolls of Kiribati, recording his experiences of the people and place. Portraits from the Edge, an exhibition of photographs depicting the vibrant social system, is his way of putting a face to climate change.

New Zealand Artist Robin White lived in Kiribati for 17 years. Her exhibition is a snapshot at the work she made during her time there, including woodcuts, paintings and photography.

Both exhibitions will be opened by ANU Climate Change Institute Executive Director, Professor Will Steffen.

Read more about the School of Art