Art & democracy: Art as Resistance to Oppression & Climate Crisis

Welcome to Art and democracy: Art as Resistance to Oppression and Climate Crisisthe first seminar in a series called “Art and Democracy”. Through this seminar series, we aim to focus on art as an independent actor in the pursuit of a democratic society.

How do we confront climate injustice and imagine alternative futures—beyond destruction and exploitation?

The climate crisis is not just about rising temperatures or melting glaciers —it is also about power. It revolves around who profits and who pays. Fundamentally it calls to question which lands are sacrificed, which bodies are displaced, and which voices are silenced.

We’re often told that solving the climate crisis is a matter of just politics, green  technology, and individual choice. We are advised to recycle more, drive less, and trust that world leaders will guide us toward a sustainable future. But what if this isn’t the whole story? What if the very systems that created this crisis—free market capitalism, colonialism, and the relentless drive for economic growth—are incapable of fixing it?

The truth is, climate change is not just an environmental issue; it’s an issue of injustice. It is the continuum of centuries of extraction—of land, labor, and life itself. Until we confront its root causes, we will continue to find falsified solutions that are hardly just.

Who is climate action really meant for? Is it about preserving life, or preserving the status quo? If the current system is built on all-consuming destruction, how can we ever hope to build a different future within it?

It’s easy to feel hopeless in the face of these realities. Afterall. we are up against powerful forces. But despair is not an option. The climate struggle is not only about loss—it is also about resistance and those who refuse to be erased—the communities fighting back—the artists, storytellers, and activists who dare to imagine a new world.  We don’t need incremental adjustments to an already  broken system. We need a fundamental shift in how we relate to each other—to the land—to the preternatural world.

This is not about going back to some mythical past; it is about moving forward with a new-found understanding. What if, instead of treating nature as a resource to be controlled and dominated, we recognized it as kith and kin? As Donna Haraway writes in Staying with the Trouble, we need to “stay with the trouble”—to live with the mess and complexity of the world, rather than pretending we can control or fix it with simple solutions. What if, instead of seeking technological fixes, we embraced complexity and uncertainty? What if, instead of waiting for solutions from our superiors, we built them together, as equals?

Program:

17:00 – Doors Open and welcoming speech by the director of Nordic House, Sabina Westerholm.

17:15 – 18:15 – Screenings:
The Worm (17 min) – Garðar Þór Þorkelsson
To See Without Man (23 min) – Ingrid Bjørnaali
The Value of Forest (24 min) – Ronan

18:15 – 18:30 – Short break
18:30 – 18:40 – Keynote
18:40 – 19:30 – Panel Discussion & Q&A

19:30 – Late – Refreshments & Informal Discussion

Panelists: 

Daria Testo (she/her) curator and storyteller

Garðar Þór Þorkelsson (he/him) documentary director and editor

Ingrid Bjørnaali (she/her) multidisciplinary artist

Ronan (he/they) cameraperson and part-time bike messenger

Þorgerður Ólafsdóttir (she/her) visual artist

This panel will be moderated by Sigrún Perla Gísladóttir (she/her)

Accessibility in Elissa auditorium is good, there is a low threshold into the hall. On the same floor is a toilet with good access and changing facilities. There is a ramp leading to the Nordic House from the parking lot, and an automatic button at the main door. 

This event will be held in English. There will be closed captioning available. There will be no strobe lighting or loud noise. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided after the event.

We’re in a learning process about access needs. If your access needs are not sufficiently met by the above provisions, please do reach to elham@nordichouse.is and we can discuss how to best support your attending of this event.