David Buckland is a UK- based designer, artist and film-maker whose lens-based works have been shown in numerous galleries in London, Paris and New York and collected by the National Portrait Gallery, London, the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, the Metropolitan Museum, New York and the Getty Collection, Los Angeles. He has designed over 20 stage sets – as well as costumes – for The Royal Ballet, Rambert Dance Company, Second Stride, Compagnie Cré-Ange and Siobhan Davies Dance Company. Five books of David’s photographs have been published, including works on the Trojan wars and the Last Judgment featuring the sculptures of Sir Anthony Caro, and two monographs of his own work. Since 2001, David has directed the Cape Farewell project, which he created to bring together artists, scientists and educators to address and raise awareness about climate change. David will take part in the Climate Dialogue conference, Hong Kong from 6-9 November 2010, as a speaker for the panel on Changing Mindset and Behaviour.

• How do you understand the widely used expression that “culture is the fourth pillar of sustainability” (alongside social, environmental and economic issues)?

The word culture is not isolated. To a great extent, it embraces social and economic structures: they are part of culture. We tend to think and work in “silos”: separating culture from economy, environment, education, social issues. We need to think in a much more symbiotic and synergetic way, because we live in a hybrid society. Everything is inter-dependent and connected. Sustainability covers everything: it is about the way we live, and the way we project our life in the future. Together with “culture”, I think “social innovation” is another key word that we should not forget. It refers to new ideas that help to resolve existing challenges for the benefit of communities and the planet as a whole.

• You started Cape Farewell in 2001.What motivated you to do that? What does “cultural response to climate change” mean?

Climate change is a proven scientific fact. The way we live and the way civilisation has evolved over the last 200 years is seriously damaging our planet. This needs to be addressed and we need a cultural shift: a re-assessment of values and our economic structures. We need to create a different lifestyle and different social engagement.

I started Cape Farewell in 2001 provoked by an artistic inquiry. I came across mathematical modelling: the way scientists structure systems and predict outcomes. This is the first time humanity has had such a tool that, in itself, is a direct product of our capability to have super-fast computers. This “environmental modelling” helps us to understand the results of our actions in 10, 20, 30 and more years ahead. Such a modelling approach ... unlocked my creative curiosity. In order to shift the systems that society is based on, we need profound creative thinking to reposition ourselves, our lives, who we are and how we might act to change our actions today to have a better future for the planet. We need the best creative minds to do that.

• Do you consider Cape Farewell to be an “innovative project”? If yes, why?

Well, our concept and actions are unique and therefore: innovative. As far as I know, there is nobody else doing what we do in such a total programme. We are an umbrella organisation and we bring together our best artists, scientists, writers, economists, architects, politicians, educators and communicators to address creative solutions to what is a very serious and global challenge. Since 2003 we have led seven expeditions to the Arctic, taking these “great minds” (20 people) to experience the effects of climate change and to get inspired by the amazing place we visit and the way it changes; to understand the science behind those changes; and to inhabit the questions such a change entails. By physically sailing for three weeks to the heart of the debate, we focus our attention on the effects of climate change and revealing the natural systems that maintain balance in this crucial part of the planet through scientific experiments, film, live web broadcasts, events, exhibitions and the insight of artists and educators.

Expeditions are only one of the focus points of Cape Farewell. We are committed to bringing this debate into our urban lives through festivals, films, exhibitions and publications to attain worldwide visibility and interaction.

• You just came back from the 2010 expedition? Could you share with us some of the highlights of this unforgettable experience?

This was the 9th Art & Science expedition to the Arctic. We brought together 20 marine scientists and artists from around the world – writers, musicians, visual artists, directors and architects. The 22-day journey to the Arctic was broadcast daily on an expedition blog, together with images and video reports from the expedition.

Two things to share, among many inspiring moments and adventures we had during the expeditions. We came across a glacier that was not there anymore. Dr Simon Boxall and I had witnessed this glacier five years previously and it had just disappeared – this discovery was like a hit in the stomach. The Arctic ice is melting really fast; scientists are now speculating that in ten years time, there will be no ice in the North Pole during the summer: this year the ice cover at the North Pole receded by 25% and most of it is now less than 1.5m thick and mostly first-year ice. The melting is down to human activities and it is shocking to me that we, as humans, have the capability to remove something so large and powerful on our planet. We collectively have the power to change the balanced systems of natural forces. The people who are the most worried about this are our scientists: they are not emotional, but calm, rational, level-headed, conservative people and we should listen to them. Very seriously.

You can read more stories on our blog, or look at Twitter and Facebook.

• How does the project create awareness and help to educate young people to understand the importance of this issue?

Young people are our best ambassadors: changes in the climate, sustainability issues, environmental problems – these are all concerns about their future. We hand over the planet to them. It is in their lifetimes that they will have to deal with the problem. They are the ones who have to create a new sustainable future. Cape Farewell has had two Arctic expeditions where 35 youngsters worked together with artists and scientists, and came back to their schools and communities, enriched by their experience. They also communicated the message about climate change and shared these experiences with their friends, classmates, teachers, communities, families, neighbourhoods. They are playing the role of ambassadors for climate and cultural shift.

• How does the project “translate” global issues related to climate change into concrete artistic and scientific results? Can you give a concrete example?

Artists’ responses to global issues are individual, as well as collective. Cape Farewell has had two exhibitions that have toured all over the world on the theme of climate change. It is a subject important to artists. Whenever you get a society under threat, in a state of flux, you will get artists working.

• What are the main “lessons learned” as a result of running the project for nine years now?

Everything is inter-connected. Nothing is in isolation anymore. We cannot continue by just “fixing the economy” or “fixing the environment”, etc. Everything is part of a joined-up solution. We need to restructure our minds around “interconnectiveness” and to look also at the term “liquid modernity”, stressing that in the society we create, everything is fluid. [1]

• How do you promote Cape Farewell online (including using Web 2.0 tools)? Does your expedition blog create interest and attract users/readers?

Aside from the social networking tools (blogs, forums, online presentations, etc.), we use our films, images and books to promote the message of Cape Farewell beyond artistic and scientific circles. Our exhibition (consisting of sculptures, installations, paintings) has been seen by more than 860,000 people. We also make films for television and the Cape Farewell artists have participated in debates and forums around the world.

• Are artists aware of the feedback and responses by audiences, citizens, communities and critics?

Artists are always at the frontline, looking at the future. They don’t always spend specific time to find out what people are thinking or how audiences are reflecting. They just go further. But of course, Cape Farewell is aware of people’s responses: we collect press releases, we read critical reviews and opinions, we look at the number of online users who visit our sites. We are aware of the number and profile of people who visit our exhibitions. To make an influence, to make an impact, an artistic work should be seen. The message needs to be spread to as many people as possible.