The Future of Art: A Radical Reawakening - as seen in The Jersey Evening Post
Art has always been the pulse of civilization, a language that transcends borders, an energy that defines epochs, and a force that has continually reshaped the human experience. From cave paintings whispering the stories of our ancestors to the masterpieces of the Renaissance, from the radical abstraction of modernism to the immersive digital worlds of today, artists have long held the role of visionaries, provocateurs, and cultural architects. Yet, in the present moment, something feels displaced. Artists are no longer at the forefront of society. Instead, they find themselves marginalized, their value systematically eroded by the machinery of commerce, algorithmic culture, and economic structures that fail to recognize their significance.
Never in history have artists been so profoundly undermined. In a world where creativity fuels industries, fashion, music, cinema, architecture, even corporate branding, how is it that the very individuals generating these ideas are often struggling to survive? Art bleeds into every aspect of life, and yet, the structures in place fail to reflect this truth.
Reclaiming Art as a Force for Societal Change
The 21st century is hurtling toward a technological singularity, an era where artificial intelligence and digital platforms dominate our cultural consciousness. We consume content at breakneck speed, but do we ever stop to recognize the human spirit behind it? The slow disintegration of arts funding, the gig economy's grip on creative labor, and the undervaluation of artistic professions in government policy and corporate infrastructure have all led to a precarious situation. If we continue to sideline art and artists, we risk an unprecedented cultural void.
The reality is, art is not just about self-expression. It is about identity, community, and evolution. It is an agent of change. If we are to truly address the crises of our time, climate change, mental health, social inequality, then art must be positioned at the center of the conversation. Not as an accessory, but as a necessity.
The Art of Sustainability: Redefining the Relationship Between Art, Nature, and Innovation
The future of art does not exist in a vacuum. It is intrinsically linked to our environment, our technology, and the ways we choose to exist within them.
For years, I have sought to bridge the gap between sustainability, community engagement and artistic practice, integrating sustainable materials and most recently with kelp & seaweed-based textiles into contemporary fashion and sculpture, and collaborating with scientific institutions to redefine the possibilities of what art can be. My previous work with University of Toronto’s Capstone Program, more recently Queen Mary University in London UK, and organizations like Ocean Culture Life and the National Trust for Jersey has led me to one undeniable conclusion: art is one of the most powerful tools for rewilding the world.
Imagine a world where cities breathe because of moss-infused sculptures, where high fashion is crafted from regenerative biomaterials. Imagine a world where human creativity reclaims its space from artificial intelligence, where the raw emotion, depth, and imperfections of human touch breathe life into canvases, telling stories that no algorithm could ever truly comprehend. In this vision, artists push beyond the constraints of AI-generated imagery, forging a deeper, more visceral connection between creator and audience, one that transcends data-driven aesthetics and reaffirms the irreplaceable essence of human intuition, experience, and soul in artistic expression. We are on the precipice of an entirely new artistic movement, one that refuses to conform, one that does not merely entertain but revolutionizes the way we interact with our planet.
A Call to Action: Elevating Art to Its Rightful Place
I did not come to the Jersey Channel Islands by accident. I am the first artist in history to arrive here under a Global Talent Visa, endorsed by the Arts Council England as an Exceptionally Promising Artist. Yet, despite the prestige of such a recognition, the process was not smooth. Immigration officials in both Canada and the UK struggled to grasp how Immigration Representatives from Jersey did not recognize nor support such a Universal, prestigious, and well established title, and the initial rejection by Jersey’s system was a stark reminder of how far we still have to go in recognizing the value of artistic talent.
Artists should never have to fight for their right to exist. They should be celebrated, welcomed, and empowered to contribute to the cultural and intellectual wealth of any nation. Jersey has an opportunity to become a hub for artistic innovation, an incubator for progressive ideas that challenge the status quo, that weave sustainability into the creative economy, that place art back at the center of societal evolution.
If we continue to detach ourselves from true art and its connection to nature, we will only accelerate the growing sense of detachment, anxiety, and cultural depletion that is already manifesting across generations. Studies in neuroscience and psychology have repeatedly affirmed what we instinctively know: Art has the Power to Heal, to center, to define who we are. Where is the infrastructure to support this? Where is the acknowledgment that artists are the unseen architects of the future?
A Celebration of Art and Innovation in Jersey
To truly embrace the radical potential of art, I encourage the Jersey community to engage with the works being created right here on the island. I am currently part of a talented group time-contained art exhibition at the Berni Gallery in the Jersey Arts Centre, celebrating 100 years of Quantum Mechanics and Innovation. This exhibition brings together diverse creative minds to explore the intersections of science, philosophy, and artistic expression. It is a testament to the boundless curiosity and ingenuity of artists, and I urge the community to experience it firsthand before it concludes on March 29th.
It is time to reimagine the role of artists in the global ecosystem. We must establish community-inclusive hubs around the world, spaces where artistic expression is not an afterthought but a driving force for economic and social transformation. We must challenge corporate structures to invest more into art not just as a branding tool but as a critical component of workplace culture and innovation. We must demand policy reform that integrates artistic vision into urban planning, sustainability, and education.
Jersey has the chance to lead this movement. With its rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and growing recognition as a progressive community, this island can be the blueprint for what a future-driven, artist-centered society looks like.
This is not just about preserving the arts. It is about forging a new world, one where artists are not only recognized but given the tools, space, and respect to shape the very future we will all inhabit.
We are the architects of tomorrow. It is time the World recognized it.
Progressing forwards
