When art meets ecology: a project from Stephen Turner

It's a peculiar artistic project with a very clear goal: make aware the collectivity to respect the environment, and discover the emotional response of human beings to climate change. This is the mission of the English artist, Stephen Turner.

Often the vast ocean of creativity gives birth to creations that are there to amaze and be admired, in this case art has a precise and direct aim, and becomes available to everyone, to a public made of universal consumers.
In Beaulieu, in the national park in New Forest, in the district of the English Hampshire, Stephen Turner unveils this peculiar artistic project. His mission is to live for a whole year in a restricted habitat, closed inside a curious wooden egg floating on the river at night, and during the day only in contact with the water that surrounds him, the nature, its weak and strong calls, to discover the mutation and impact that has on us.
The artist will be immersed in a corner of the river Beaulieu until July of the next year, to examine the lost synergy between nature and man and to fully comprehend how much the impact of the civilization of consumptions has changed deeply the relationship between people and Mother Nature.
He brought with him only a wc, a wood stove and the electric energy of solar panels, leaving himself to a little space to live in, where Turner will document the rhythmic existence of the landscape, and the garbage that pollute the river. In the capsule there is no fridge, once the artist will end his provisions he'll have to get hold of food by himself.
Part of Turner's project also includes swimming the water during the whole year, to complete part of his studies of connection between man and nature. The research, and what is a real and proper live performance lasting one year, has been funded by the Arts Council England, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and the Hampshire County Council for a total of 140.000 pounds.

The local companies donated an additional amount of 100.000 pounds in equipment.
The artist, 58 year old, has been involved in the project of Winchester's Spud (company that works in eco and urban design). His days outside the egg will be followed 24 hours by two webcams and documented with pictures on his personal blog, as part of an educational initiative in partnership with some schools.
Turner, with a degree in Fine Arts, has continued his studies with a master in history and philosophy of science.

About the project he said:
" The seas are rising, the established salt marsh is eroding and the shore line is changing and that is happening around the world, and I think our emotional responses to these changes are interesting. "