!Do Something

The UNSW Wicked Collective invited students, staff and researchers from the Arts, Design and Architecture Faculty to submit creative responses and interventions in relation to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the wicked problem of Climate Change.

When:

12 September - 18 November 2022
 

Where:

Level 5 Main Library
Online exhibition

Partners:

UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture

Climate Change is the dominant wicked problem of our time: there is no single solution; the boundaries are difficult to define; and it is influenced by complex, interdependent and rapidly changing factors.

In response to Bruce Mau's MC24 Principle 'New wicked problems demand new wicked teams' (24 Principles for Designing Massive Change in your life and work), The Wicked Collective for Climate Change and Sustainable Development was established in 2021 by five committed academics from the School of Art and Design. We believe that artists, designers, academics and students need to work together across disciplinary boundaries to effectively respond to the wicked problems confronting us.

This exhibition presents creative responses and interventions to the wicked problem of Climate Change from students and staff across the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture (ADA). These works all relate to one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and were created since the formation of ADA in 2020.

!Do Something was part of the ADA Now Festival 2022.

View the online exhibition.

Image gallery

Installation view of a gallery space showing textile works, display cabinets, mannequins, and a video projection.

Do Something - installation view across galleries 1 and 2

Title wall of exhibition space with a bright orange, black and white text design. Two artworks sit on white plinths next to the title wall – a large, white 3D printed coral-like object on the left, and a small, translucent orange handbag to the right.

Do Something - entry

Gallery space with several artworks. Artworks include three wall-mounted handmade textile works, a mannequin with a recycled denim outfit, a display case with a black and white textile work, and a mannequin with a cream-coloured, fabric-woven outfit.

Do Something - installation view of gallery 1 featuring textile works

A gallery space with several separate artworks. Artworks include a video projection, objects in two display cabinets, a textile work on a dressmaker’s mannequin, colourful wall-mounted textile works, and sculptural objects on two wall-mounted shelves.

Do Something - installation view of gallery 1

A gallery space with four separate artworks - six colourful wall-mounted textile works, four smaller red and white wall-mounted textile works, a shelf with seedling cards and sprouting greens, and a shelf with seven small, dark heart-shaped sculptures.

Do Something - installation view of gallery 2

Gallery space with several artworks. Artworks include a framed and wall-mounted illustration, collage, and several photographic works, a video work on a flat panel screen, and a ceramic work on a plinth.

Do Something - installation view of gallery 3 (2)

A gallery space with four separate artworks. Artworks include a video projection with a display cabinet, ceramics on a plinth, printed photographs mounted on the wall, and two iPads with headphones.

Do Something - installation view of gallery 3

A gallery space filled with people socialising.

Do Something Opening Night - guests socialising in gallery 2

A man and two women standing against the orange title wall of the exhibition.

Do Something Opening Night - title wall with Bruce Mau

A gallery space filled with people socialising.

Do Something Opening Night - guests socialising in gallery 1

Installation view of a gallery space showing textile works, display cabinets, mannequins, and a video projection.
Title wall of exhibition space with a bright orange, black and white text design. Two artworks sit on white plinths next to the title wall – a large, white 3D printed coral-like object on the left, and a small, translucent orange handbag to the right.
Gallery space with several artworks. Artworks include three wall-mounted handmade textile works, a mannequin with a recycled denim outfit, a display case with a black and white textile work, and a mannequin with a cream-coloured, fabric-woven outfit.
A gallery space with several separate artworks. Artworks include a video projection, objects in two display cabinets, a textile work on a dressmaker’s mannequin, colourful wall-mounted textile works, and sculptural objects on two wall-mounted shelves.
A gallery space with four separate artworks - six colourful wall-mounted textile works, four smaller red and white wall-mounted textile works, a shelf with seedling cards and sprouting greens, and a shelf with seven small, dark heart-shaped sculptures.
Gallery space with several artworks. Artworks include a framed and wall-mounted illustration, collage, and several photographic works, a video work on a flat panel screen, and a ceramic work on a plinth.
A gallery space with four separate artworks. Artworks include a video projection with a display cabinet, ceramics on a plinth, printed photographs mounted on the wall, and two iPads with headphones.
A gallery space filled with people socialising.
A man and two women standing against the orange title wall of the exhibition.
A gallery space filled with people socialising.

Past events from this exhibition

Opening event

!Do Something was opened by ADA Dean Professor Claire Annesley, with special guests Bruce Mau and Aiyemobisi (Bisi) Williams from the Massive Change Network.

Event was held on Wednesday, 21 September 2022.