Thesis Format
Alternative Format
Degree
Master of Fine Arts
Program
Visual Arts
Supervisor
Nault, Sheri O.
Abstract
This dossier, a companion to my MFA thesis exhibition, communicates research on climate anxiety and contemporary art’s engagement with the Climate Emergency. It gathers contemporary art and fiction, graphic novels, environmental philosophy, Indigenous literature and theory, and feminist theory. The Comprehensive Artist Statement articulates how I process and respond to my own climate anxiety through my contemporary painting practice. A material commitment is elucidated, and a collaborative painting strategy outlined, both in the service of better connecting my tangible studio output with my research to form a cohesive whole. These experiments influenced the images and art materials that I worked with, to bring to life the series of paintings shown in the Practice Documentation chapter. The final chapter is an experimental exhibition review of BioCurious, curated by Jennifer Matotek and Julie Rae Tucker. Autoethnographic sections are interspersed throughout these chapters to document my reflections on living through climate change.
Summary for Lay Audience
This dossier tells the story of how my climate anxiety inspired me to return to university after a significant break. During my time working toward a Master of Fine Arts degree in Visual Arts, I researched current climate issues and possible solutions as addressed in contemporary art and fiction, graphic novels, environmental philosophy, Indigenous literature and theory, and feminist theory. These studies influenced the images and art materials that I worked with, to bring to life the series of paintings shown in the Practice Documentation chapter. The last chapter is an exhibition review that experiments with different writing styles to analyze an art exhibition titled BioCurious. Throughout all chapters, I have recorded my thoughts and emotions related to the experience of living through climate change.
Recommended Citation
Joyce, Jessica I., "How can I be OK with the e/and of the world?" (2024). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 10418.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/10418
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.