A powerful new public art exhibit titled "SONG/LAND/SEA: WAI Water Warning & Binakol Blessing" by interdisciplinary artist Lani Asunción is set to open at the Rose Kennedy Greenway on Thursday, July 25, from 6-8:30 p.m. This exhibit addresses the devastating and inequitable effects of global warming, exacerbated by the construction of the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway and the Big Dig, which created urban heat islands impacting marginalized communities in Chinatown, Roxbury, and Dorchester.
Urban heat islands, areas where urban development causes temperatures to be significantly higher than surrounding rural areas, disproportionately affect marginalized communities. These areas experience increased temperatures due to the concentration of concrete, asphalt, and buildings, which absorb and retain heat. The resulting higher temperatures exacerbate health issues, energy consumption, and overall discomfort for residents.
Asunción’s work implores viewers to confront climate change's urgent realities and mobilize toward collective resilience and justice. The exhibit features the WAI Water Clock, a sculpture made from cement, brass, rope, and steel, and Binakol Blessing Banners + Flags, digitally created images printed on towering flags and banners. The central concept of the work revolves around "wai," a Hawaiian word meaning both "water" and "wealth," highlighting its importance as both a warning and a healing blessing in the face of climate change.
Comments