an invitation to engage with the natural world

Vivienne Schadinsky, an artist conducting research projects that explore vulnerable natural ecosystems, including plants, food crops, air quality, water systems and soil health. Her artistic approach aims to take the viewers on a journey to be more aware of their surroundings and thought processes. She seeks to engage you to be part of the questions raised that underline our evolving relationship to nature and the role art has in our society  —  with a particular focus on the impact climate change and biodiversity loss have.

How can we open our minds to new possibilities and shift away from our human-centric view?  How can we renew our thoughts before we can regenerate our habits? How might new perspectives redefine our way of life and guide our response for addressing climate change?

In her food related projects CIBUS, SEGES and BEANS Vivienne depicts a possible climate future, incorporating indigenous knowledge, asking us how this can change our relationship with nature and its impact on our society and our planet? She is looking at the changes that are happening to the future of food security due to the unprecedented times we are living in, and paints plants that will feed us in the future and foods that adapt to extreme weather.

Vivienne receives information and advice directly from figures in the scientific community; such as a member of Kew Gardens’ Millennium Seed Bank in Wakehurst, the Head of Tree Collections at Kew Gardens, a soil specialist, a Natural History Museum Collections’ curator, a professor specialised in international legumes breeding programmes and a Japanese advisor on the micro seasons. Her process starts with the evidence of science and art and then moves to art and philosophy*.

Vivienne is exploring the resistance to the Anthropocene by engaging with the Symbiocene. A philosophy that is telling a more positive narrative. As everything and everybody is intricately connected, we don’t know exactly what will happen next. We navigate between comprehension and uncertainty. By observing the planetary changes Vivienne hopes to push the boundaries of our current understanding. The Symbiocene is a re-integration between humans and nature.

She is also a passionate art educator, especially interested in the cosmic education of the Montessori philosophy that tells the story of the interconnectedness of all things. She is currently developing and teaching a sustainable art syllabus at the AMI Montessori school in London for primary and secondary aged children. She also runs art classes, workshops and speaking events.

Vivienne has adapted a multi–faceted sustainable practise that encompasses environmental art, pushing boundaries of ecological art. It embodies the principals of Japanese ink and natural pigment paintings, printmaking, sculpture, plant installations and film making. Her primary medium is Japanese Sumi-e, which allows her to create works with fine monochrome values and to experiment with the evanescent quality in contrast to the dense black and tonal values.

Vivienne plays between abstraction and representation in her work. By drawing on scientific and philosophical knowledge and connecting with plants, this is a process where Vivienne hopes to expand our perception of us/nature, reshaping our conversations and empowering us with new ways of thinking.

Vivienne’s work has been shown in solo exhibitions in Basel | Switzerland, London and Manningtree | UK and in a group exhibitions in London, Tokyo | Japan and in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault | Norway.

Her artworks are held in private collections throughout the UK, Europe and the US. 

Member of the International - Sumi-e Association Tokyo | Japan

Born in Basel | Switzerland, she lives and works in London | UK

*Arts and humanities can give us hope. Philosophy can remind us why life is worth living. It can connect us with our environment, inspire creativity and maybe offer some solace and the thoughts that make it all meaningful.

’What speaks to the soul, escapes our measurements’ — Alexander von Humboldt