Street Art and the Environment

Can art change the world?

Issues like climate change and unsustainable natural resource consumption are climbing ever higher on the international political agenda. Scientific reports, media coverage and information campaigns advise the public about these complex matters, including the environmental impact of human activity. It can however be difficult to engage people with facts and figures alone.

This book examines a number of environment-themed artistic interventions. It suggests that street art, partly due to its unauthorised placement in everyday settings, is well-suited to shift attitudes and behaviours. The book also considers how online viewing may affect the experience of artworks and, in turn, their potential to influence people regarding the environment.

Peter Bengtsen is an art historian and sociologist. He has been writing about street art since 2006. His first book, "The Street Art World", was published by Almendros de Granada Press in 2014.