“We are thinking about these problems of climate change as something that the next generation will face,” said Ana Maria Vicedo-Cabrera, a researcher at the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine at the University of Bern in Switzerland. “It’s something we are facing already. We are throwing stones at ourselves.” -New York Times, May 31, 2021

Now—not later—is the time to consider solutions to the climate emergency as monsoons, natural disasters, heat-related deaths and even the pandemic can be linked to its impact.

As London reopened its art scene with everyone celebrating the summer weather, a dramatic public art project filled the streets. ‘Restoration: Now or Never,’ organized by Daria Borisova and Anne Verhallen (Art At A Time Like This), in collaboration with SaveArtSpace and Hauser & Wirth, focused on the urgency of our climate crisis through a visual public display throughout London, UK. The exhibition, spanning across billboards and bus shelters, was in conjunction with World Environment Day in the UK, a day committed to encouraging awareness and action to protect our environment. Bringing emerging and established artists together, this was the first UK activation by the non-profit SaveArtSpace.

The public art exhibition presented renowned artists alongside artists carefully selected through an open call. Working with a next-generation curatorial team, including Michael Xufu Huang, Destinee Ross-Suton, Aindrea Emelife, Daria Borisova and Anne Verhallen, the show brought together a global and diverse group of artists. Curators selected artists who create work in response to climate change, calls for restorative action or suggests a path forward. Selected artists included Cara Romero, Coco Capitán, Formafantasma, Fred Tomaselli, Hayden Kays, Johan Deckmann, Khari Turner, Tianjiao Zhang, Edward Tsui, Lanmuzhi Yang, Lily Kwong, Misha Waks, Odinakachi Okoroafor, Olive Allen, Philomène Amougou, Piotr Krzymowski, Rewind Collective, Sophie Hughes, Stefan Brüggemann, Susan Unterberg, Tabita Rezaire, Wang Yuyang, Whitney Stolich, and Zhang Huan.