Daksha Patel is a multi-disciplinary artist who works across a wide range of media, materials and technologies. Her inter-disciplinary projects have engaged with Biophysics, Applied Mathematics, Environmental Modelling, Parkinson’s Disease research, Linguistics and Neuroscience. Research residencies within academic institutions such as King’s College, London, regularly inform her practice. She has an ongoing interest in scientific processes of mapping, measurement and visualisation, and has made work with Lidar scanning, photogrammetry, bio-sensors and creative coding.

Daksha collaborated with Clare Saunders, Professor in Politics and Head of Department for Humanities and Social Sciences for the University of Exeter in Cornwall. Based at the Penryn campus, the department is an exciting interdisciplinary endeavour that fruitfully interweaves insights from the disciplines of History, Law, Politics, Modern Languages and Literature. Their work examines societies, cultures and justice in the past, present and future. Academics there work broadly across humanities and social sciences, and with other disciplines, to help make the world a better place for all.

Together they explored environmental justice, a social movement which aspires to put justice for people, organisms and eco-systems at the heart of solutions to environmental problems. Central to the project, the pair creatively explored 'deep forms of environmental justice'. Deep forms ensure that negative environmental externalities are prevented at source, while also deeply respecting people from all backgrounds, treating people as equal partners, recompensing those damaged by pollution, the need to rebuild communities and to educate.

You can find out more about how the collaboration unfolded in a process film below.

Diverse Voices Workshops

In March 2023 Daksha and Clare invited students from Tanzania, Sri Lanka and the UK to take part in a series of Zoom workshops exploring environmental justice means to them.

Through the use of sharing images, these workshops encourages participants to collectively explore their thoughts, feelings, concerns and ideas about how we can ensure that environments, ecosystems, species, and indigenous communities are respected in human decision-making.

You can dicsover more about each session in a blog written by Daksha here.

Wicked Patterns and Sticky Maps Workshop

This transdisciplinary workshop at ESI (Environment and Sustainability Institute) used creative mapping methods to tease out the meanings, values, definitions, challenges and benefits of Environmental Justice. The terms ‘wicked’ and ‘sticky’ in the title refer to complex problems that are continually changing. ‘Wicked’ and ‘sticky’ issues can be difficult or even impossible to solve, they do not have one single solution and need close sustained attention involving an understanding of many interdependent factors. Some of the questions we asked during the workshop included:

• How can we work towards respecting people, other species, ecosystems and wider environments?

• What are deep and shallow approaches to environmental justice?

The interactive activities revolved around conversations whilst mapping patterns of ideas using colour, text and drawing to reflect upon the the meanings of Environmental Justice.

ESI @ 10 Event

The map created by staff was then shown as part of the Environment and Sustainability Institutes 10 year anniversary event on 9th June 2023. Those attending the event were also then given the opportunity to contribute to the map.

Both Clare and Daksha presented more about their Creative Fellowship process at the event to researchers, academics, staff and students from across the University as part of the event.

'Sticky Wicked' Installation

Inspired by their experiences and learnings from the workshops with staff and students, Daksha created an artwork called Sticky Wicked.

Measuring approximately 1.3 metres in diameter, the map drawing is both local and global; its circular format suggests the earth but it is also based on the local area. It has been deliberately drawn in graphite pencil, a reference to the element of carbon being so closely linked to the future of the environment and all living things.

The image merges different types of datamaps representing the distribution of diverse species and habitats with human habitation. In doing so, it asks whose needs are met in this environment? The concepts of ‘sticky’ and ‘wicked’ refer to complex problems that are difficult to define, resistant to change and have no fixed solutions.

Sticky Wicked is available to view in the entrance hall of the Exchange Building on the University of Exeter's Penryn campus.

See below for a time lapse of its creation.

Clare and Daksha are continuing to work together and as of June 2023 have submitted an abstract to the Green Humanities Journal detailing their experiences of collaborating on this fellowship.

About Daksha Patel

Her commission ‘Pani’ for the Horniman Museum, London, explored the impact of water pollution upon bio-diversity and human health in the Sunderbans region of Bangladesh. It comprised of a large-scale print on fabric and some ceramic works. The print merges satellite imagery in the colours of local textiles with drawings of flora/fauna at risk and embroidery. By making connections between nature and culture, it suggests that the loss of biodiversity is also a loss to the fabric of culture. The ceramic pot designs reference traditional water carrying pots from the region. They are deformed and cracked to suggest damage, and decorated with drawings of chemical pollutants and pathogens found in the water.

Arts and Culture Creative Fellowships

Arts and Culture Creative Fellowships offer creative practitioners the opportunity to engage with innovative academics and professional services staff across the University of Exeter’s colleges and campuses.

Rather than being a residency, these opportunities are described as placements. The creative practitioner is a peer, opening up new approaches and conversations with the University hosts while developing and enriching their own creative practice. This scheme encourages mutually beneficial exchange, where both the host and the creative practitioner gain new insights and potential ways of working.