In 2018 the Art and Energy Collective worked with post doctoral researcher Dr Katie Shanks and the renewable energy team at the Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI), to develop the aesthetics of solar photovoltaics (PV), creating a series of artworks that generate electricity which were exhibited at the ESI Creative Exchange space at the University's Penryn Campus in September 2019.

About Art and Energy Collective

The Art and Energy Collective is a group of artists, makers, technologists, academics and others who collaborate, share learning and forward the aesthetics of energy generation technology.

They work creatively to help people engage with our evolving energy system; helping participants develop skills needed to imagine and bring about a better future.

They are interested in the intersection between the energy and cultural spaces and develop all of their projects in collaboration with partners.

Find out more about the Art and Energy Collective here.

Moths to a Flame project

Since their collaboration with Dr Katie Shanks, the Art and Energy Collective have explored moths further and their fascination with light, through a variety of participative activities. ‘Moths to a Flame’ is a mass-participation art installation the Collective is developing, to be shown at COP26 in Glasgow later this year. The Collective is inviting everyone to participate by helping them make 20,000 ‘moths’ and record messages for the Moths to a Flame installation, which aims to be a nationwide creative response to the Climate Emergency.

Find out more about the project and how you can participate here.

To view how The Art and Energy collective have taken their work on moths forward since their conversations about moths with academics in the ESI, enter the Catalyst exhibition gallery below.

About 'Catalyst'

Showcasing nearly a decade of arts/science collaborations at the the University of Exeter's Environment and Sustainability Institute, Penryn, Catalyst features new work by twelve artists, all of whome have previously worked with researchers as part of the ESI Creative Exchange.