Since the 1970's, Iran has been in a propaganda war with the West. Ahmed Nadalian has been making environmental art there for 15 years. What contradictions confront the environmental artist in an undeniably critical period for the environment, in a country elsewhere occupied? Von Richard Pettifer (Australia)

Foto: © Ahmed Nadilian, 2013

Dominique Mazeaud has worked and walked with water for twenty-five years. In "Rivers Run Through Us," a new collaboration with artist Bobbe Besold and poet Valerie Martinez, she deepens her walking explorations as an intrinsic foundation of the aesthetics of engagement. Von Dominique Mazeaud, USA.

At an exhibition currently on show at the gallery Semmer Berlin (Germany), the Australian artist Jenny Brown is offering a re-interpretation of the cult television series The Prisoner. Sacha Kagan, who collaborated with Jenny on one of the works on show, further discusses here how the TV series critiques the illusions of ‘freedom’ as emancipation from attachments. Von Sacha Kagan, Lüneburg (D).

Foto: © Jenny Brown

The article discusses “transdisciplinarity” and “interdisciplinarity”, and illustrates the benefits of a transdisciplinary approach for combined spatial and cultural analysis, to improve research at the intersection of urban and cultural studies. By Volker Kirchberg, Lüneburg (D).

The fifth edition of the Burning Ice Festival in Brussels, from June 5th to 9th at the KAAI Theater and around the city, questioned nature-culture relationships. Sacha Kagan followed the festival for Cultura21 Webmagazine and gives us a short review. Von Sacha Kagan, Lüneburg.

Foto: © BettinaF / PIXELIO

Among artists working with science, those who deal with the climate have gained particular relevance recently. In Andrea Polli’s works, her art, in which nature meets digital culture and technology, is capable of putting man back in the centre of the environment, stimulating direct involvement, both intellectual and physical. By Gaia Bindi.

How may we evaluate the sustainability of processual, open source, community-based, bottom-up/ P2P projects and initiatives within clothing and fashion, or even broader, within economies of culture? Building on an 'ethical fashion' case, OpenWear, this small reflection will try to provide some lines of thought that might be useful to move ahead with understanding the sustainability of such phenomena better. And, in a broader perspective, provide a bit of food for thought around cultures of sustainability. By Oleg Koefoed, Kopenhagen (DK).

Foto: © L. Stallknecht / PIXELIO

The Ueber Lebenskunst Festival in Berlin, from August 17th to 21st at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW), and in some other locations in Berlin, playfully explores cultural actions for sustainable ways of life. Sacha Kagan is following the festival for Cultura21 Webmagazine, sharing some impressions gained along the flow of the events. from Berlin, Sacha Kagan

Plants with human DNA, bacteria creating poems and many “living works”. Playing to be God, the first exhibition in Italy dedicated to American artist Eduardo reflects on the genetic possibility to become other. By Claudio Cravero (IT).

Foto: © Valentina Bonomonte, PAV Living Art Park

The advent of the anthropocene age has mobilized many artists to address environmental issues, as, climate change, water and habitat loss. Artists who work with science and scientists have been acutely moved by the scale of disaster many feel we are facing. This article explores how ecological artist, Aviva Rahmani pro-actively addresses these issues with a theory about environmental restoration grounded equally in art and science. By Aviva Rahmani, New York (USA).