The Art of Energy

Dr Sean Field and Sarah O'Brien launched the Art of Energy virtual gallery in February 2021 in conjunction with the launch of the Centre for Energy Ethics.  

The Art of Energy virtual gallery is an innovative initiative that showcases how scholarly research can be creatively integrated with the arts to present a complex world that challenges us to consider the sort of society we are fuelling and the sort of society we wish to fuel. The gallery hosts exhibits by three award-winning and world-renowned photographers Ed Kashi, Owen Logan and Brook Peterson.  It also includes a commissioned sound installation from pecq that incorporates recordings by energy ethics researchers from their field sites, as well as the works of thirty artists, writers, and filmmakers short-listed for the inaugural Art of Energy Award.

During her opening remarks at the launch of the Centre for Energy Ethics on 25 February 2021, Principal and Vice-Chancellor Prof Sally Mapstone described the gallery as:

“…an enrapturing example of the Centre’s use of new technologies to communicate big ideas to profound effect”

Visitors have commented:

“It really got me thinking about energy and the way I use it…. I’ve learned so much during this process.”

“Thanks so much to the Centre for organizing this… it’s really nice that people have the imagination to approach these ethical problems of the energy revolution through art.”

“I'm so thrilled to be a part of it and in the company of such moving works…”

“What an incredible vision which has been realised…. it felt like MOMA had arrived in Fife.”

Between February and July 2021, the gallery has received over 1,290 visitors and more than 11,200 minutes of visitor engagement from people located all over the world, including: the UK, Greece, Spain, the United States, Turkey, Canada, Cyprus, Austria, France, Germany, Denmark, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, the Philippines, Singapore, Japan, Australia, and Iran.

This gallery was established with funds from the ERC-funded research project The Ethics of Oil led by Dr Mette High, and sustained with a University of St Andrews Knowledge Exchange and Impact Fund Award granted to Dr Sean Field and Sarah O'Brien.

The Art of Energy opened in February 2021 and a newly expanded online gallery is set to open in September 2021.