Last week, Grimes, the 1975, and Bon Iver announced they would be joining Undercurrent, an exhibition platform for art that will grapple with climate change. The exhibit opens on September 9th in Brooklyn, NY, and has been underwork for about three years. The event will bring together content from musicians, artists, and other collaborators to create installations that capture the weight of the ongoing climate crisis. The installations will also help raise awareness for nonprofits fighting climate change. The exhibit's goal is to inspire its viewers to take action centered around the ongoing climate crisis.

Art can easily be thought of in terms of luxury or hobby. I've been guilty of this mindset—sometimes I go to museums to relax but leave utterly impacted. Artists have long struggled to meet our society's expectations of a "career," yet we can learn a lot from their relentless drive to put content out into the world. Throughout history, art has been one of the greatest facilitators of social change, with artists often inspired to create despite the mess of the world around them. Post-pandemic, this drive is no more apparent than today, with exhibitions like Undercurrent creating new methods of spreading awareness about the issues we face.

One of the reasons Undercurrent will spread awareness is because of the interaction exhibitions require between the viewer and the artwork. When going to an exhibition or any other museum, viewers have willingly chosen to be there, be present, and let the work give them a new perspective. It’s become all too easy for us to turn off the news or scroll past something unsettling on social media that doesn’t fit our mood. The viewer commits by engaging with this art, and combatting social issues starts with shifting mindsets.

Photo: Undercurrent in Brooklyn, NY

Get tickets: https://undercurrent.nyc