What Does Sustainability Mean for Art?

Sustainability is perhaps the concept with the broadest meaning that we should embrace in this century. We talk about sustainability in many areas from fashion to agriculture, from food to economy. When it comes to art, the term sustainability continues to take on a variety of meanings. As it is known, the United Nations has 17 sustainable development goals that we are following to reach a more "livable" world in 2030, which is a recent date. The one that resonates most in the art world is the Responsible Production and Consumption target, which ranks 12th. Responsible Production and Consumption, in its simplest definition, aims to aim for companies to work towards environmentally friendly practices at every stage of their operations and to increase the use of natural materials in their products. In order to achieve this goal in many mass-produced products, product design artists are re-evaluating the foundations of their designs and making revisions to achieve sustainable steps. While there are high-level developments on a product basis, the idea of sustainability also affects daily lives and the unique works produced by individual artists. Although sustainable art is not the most financially profitable in its field, it aims to suggest potential solutions and raise awareness of "sustainability" issues depending on the artist's area of passion.

Sustainable Art from the Past: Japanese Art.

Furoshiki: While many artists today are increasingly trying to adopt more environmentally friendly practices, some cultures have been applying these principles for centuries. For example, Furoshiki, the Japanese art of folding fabric, began centuries ago to protect valuable items while transporting them, and is now used to wrap gifts or design various bags.
Popular Art Perception: Sustainability.

Outside of cultural movements, artists around the world are embracing the idea of sustainable art in different ways. For example, John Sabraw uses contaminated soil fragments as media in some of his works, such as his Toxic Sludge paintings. On the other hand, art schools are revising the practices they work on to ensure sustainability. For example, Maryland Institute College of Art focuses on students using their creativity to address social and environmental issues facing the world today. Instead of seeing the old ones as garbage, it brings new life to them and supports their development so that they can reveal their art. For another example, non-profit organizations such as The Center for Art Education and Sustainability are also working to educate institutions and students on ways they can expand their sustainability practices around the world.