Record high temperatures in the Arctic, rising sea levels, and erosion of rainforests leave no doubt: in the face of climate change, we risk saying goodbye to countless species of plants and animals, to islands and waterfront cities, and tragically to millions of people facing food insecurity from heat waves and droughts.
In the midst of this catastrophe, contemporary art is saying farewell, too. Goodbye, World brings eco-friendly works by internationally-renowned artists to an ice floe in Arctic Sweden where they will remain until the ice melts and the artworks sink to the ocean floor. The project not only reacts to the consequences of global warming, it tentatively aligns itself with these outcomes and conceptually applies them in its presentation.
The disappearance of art critiques an art industry that has been overly focused on the production and lucrative sales of works, while dealing in continuous visibility as a basis for commercial success. It is for this reason that Goodbye, World presents a scenario in which valuable works of art are 'sunk' and removed from circulation indefinitely.
Special thanks to Hanna Isaksson, Resurscentrum för Konst - Region Norrbotten, and to Eric, Susanne, and Shane at Luleå Archipelago Adventures.
Exhibition photography and videography: Sean Smuda, with additional photography by Andreas Templin.
Drone operator: Shane Doolin.
Raimar Stange studied philosophy, German, and journalism in Hanover. He works as a freelance art journalist and curator in Berlin. Stange is published in magazines such as Kunst-Bulletin Zurich, art-agenda.com, Camera Austria Graz and Artist Bremen. He is currently curating exhibitions on topics such as climate change and right-wing populism.