The Earth System and How It Works is a pop up exhibition designed to show how conditions for life are regulated over time through energy transformation and material recycling.
Sixteen satellite, aerial and ground based photographs of the land and sea surface are displayed on easels in a circle around or before a plinth supporting a globe, plant matter, and small stones. Each item is accompanied by a short, explanatory text.
The commentary is my own understanding resulting from study including of recent popular science titles by Professor Tim Lenton and Professor James Hansen. Lightweight easels were purchased new. Photographs were cut from secondhand books and mounted on card cut from hard covers. Commentary was printed by a local shop and mounted similarly. The globe was purchased and customised using a scalpel, colouring pencils, and paint. Plant matter and stones were recovered at the site. A long cardboard box, painted white, served as the plinth.
The local authority had required a fee for consideration of the event/s. After some time, I decided to proceed without permission and the exhibition was staged in Queen Square, Bath, in the UK, on five occasions during the summer of 2021. Between 25 and 50 visitors attended during a three hour period, each time, after discovering it in the square. Reception was very positive.
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