In the Aftermath of Environmental Disaster

Art, Earth Sciences, Geology, Politics and Policy collide in this multi-disciplinary forum hosted by the Ian Potter Museum of Art.

This forum was created in response to (and alongside) the work of one of Australia’s most highly regarded multi-disciplinary artists, Susan Norrie. Her video piece, Aftermath (2016) documents the decades-long eruption of the LUSI mud volcanoes in Indonesia.

Artist Susan Norrie is joined onstage by two speakers investigating the prevention, management and mitigation of environmental disasters.

First, Dr Lisa Palmer, an associate professor and senior lecturer in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Melbourne. Her work explores Indigenous approaches to environmental and social governance. She discusses the challenges of managing the political, social, economic and administrative systems in place that influence water use and management in post-disaster areas.

Earthquakes have been present on Earth for billions of years as a consequence of plate tectonics. Scientists have a strong understanding of how they occur and many are being attributed to climate change. The forum also includes Professor Mark Quigley, whose work at the University of Melbourne focuses on Active Tectonics and Geomorphology delves into the effects that human beings are having on modern earthquakes.

This forum serves as a reminder of the powerful agency of Earth and the resilience of human communities. It was convened by Associate Professor Peter Christoff from the University of Melbourne’s School of Geography.

Susan Norrie’s video work, Aftermath (2018) will appear as part of the Ian Potter Musem of Art’s upcoming exhibition; 21 x 10.