Bengaluru artist Namita Kulkarni has taken her work to the United Nations, spotlighting the often-overlooked intersection of colonialism and the climate crisis. Her exhibition, 'Colonialism and the Climate Crisis', challenges the conventional narrative that treats climate change solely as an environmental issue. Instead, it posits that the roots of the crisis lie in historical injustices and ongoing economic exploitation. This shift in perspective is crucial as it reframes climate policies to include human rights considerations, urging policymakers to address the socio-economic impacts of environmental degradation.
The exhibition features a series of paintings that vividly illustrate the consequences of pollution and climate change, such as 'Lakes on Fire', which depicts a Bengaluru lake ablaze. Kulkarni argues that modern systems prioritize profit over life, a sentiment that resonates deeply in a country grappling with severe air quality issues and environmental degradation. As India faces increasing climate-related challenges, her work serves as a timely reminder of the need for policies that prioritize human dignity alongside environmental sustainability.
